Web Hands

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Our Mission

WebHands.org's mission is to provide a web-enabled way
for every Person to extend their "virtual hands" -
their WebHands - to feed those who are hungry:
. . . hungry for Food,
for Knowledge, for Dignity . . . and for a Voice in the dialogue
of the Community.

Hands that Give do not go away empty either.

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More Information About Clothing and How You Can Help.

Your donation of clothing can help someone survive a winter or find employment. Clothing is always needed for children in poverty, families in need of disaster relief and the homeless. Often overlooked by potential donors is the help some people need making the transition into the workplace. Most job seekers understand the necessity of "looking the part to get the part." For those struggling to enter the work force for the first time or following a crisis, the means to project an appropriate image are often out of reach. This can lead to a "Catch-22" where one is in need of a job to buy the clothes they need to get a job. Organizations around the country exist to help those in transition clear this all-important hurdle. In addition to clothing, these organizations offer individuals counseling in how to dress and maintain their personal appearance in ways suitable to the workplace.

Donations of time are as valuable as donations of clothing. You can help by organizing a coat drive, donating clothes to job seekers, or distributing donations. Whether you have an overstuffed closet or simply time on your hands, you can help.
More Information About Hunger and How You Can Help.

You can help by donating that extra can of soup or an hour of your time. When it comes to fundamentals like food, even the smallest contributions make a real difference to someone in need. And very often today, that someone is a child. The booming U.S. economy hasn't changed some alarming statistics: 10% of our population still isn't getting enough food to meet basic, daily needs. 3.7 million people experience severe discomfort or pain from lack of food.

 But the ways in which you can help are numerous and meaningful. Communities across the country have food banks, shelters, and an array of other types of efforts and facilities. All can benefit from the canned goods you have had in the back of your pantry for years, or from the excess prepared food you have left over from a family gathering. Or if you don't have extra food to give, an hour of your time can help these organizations deliver their services to those in need.

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More Information About Homelessness and How You Can Help.

Think of what you do in everyday life -- in just the course of a day -- and you'll know how you can help the homeless. It could be as basic as serving a meal, or showing a family in transition around their new neighborhood. Your skills, your professional training, even your hobbies can be applied to helping the homeless. 

Increasingly, the homeless are families with children whose lives have been disrupted by a health, domestic or financial crisis. Often they work full time, but their paycheck hasn't kept pace with the economy. They are trying to regain stability, to retrieve the same routines we take for granted. 
You can always help by donating things like food, hygiene supplies and furniture. Donations of time are just as substantial and crucial. Teach a skill, organize a coat drive or prepare a meal -- different organizations are looking for people to do a variety of things, but they can all use your help.

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More Information About Literacy and How You Can Help.

Teach someone to read and you'll be teaching someone how to survive. An increasing number of adults and children in our country are excluded from the everyday world because they can't read, write or perform basic computations. By some estimates, over 40 million adults cannot read written instructions, balance a checkbook, or complete a job application.

Non-readers do not belong to any particular race or ethnic group. The most consistent feature they share is poverty. Predictably, their lack of skills perpetuates their poverty. Research has shown, however, that when they learn to read, that cycle can be broken. Their incomes improve and their children do better in school. The nation as a whole benefits, because businesses save money when worker error and accidents go down.

Get involved. Literacy groups need volunteers to tutor people in subjects such as reading, math and English-as-a-second-language. But that's not all. They also need help with efforts such as fund raising, special event coordination and general administration.

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AN OPEN INVITATION TO THE MAYORS OF ALL U.S. CITIES

Dear Mayors,

Re:     New web site for your city’s free use to help address Hunger, Homelessness, Illiteracy, and the Digital Divide in your community.

e-GM, the B-to-C 'dot.com' of General Motors, has just dedicated a national community-building web site called "webhands.org," which can be accessed through GM’s home page, http://www.gm.com, or directly via http://www.webhands.org. General Motors has donated the site for the use of local civic leaders like yourself in encouraging your own citizens to use the time and information efficiencies of the web site to become engaged with the folks in your city who are working to bridge the 'digital divide', to feed the hungry, to bring aid the homeless, and to eradicate illiteracy.

e-GM donated its web expertise - plus the high visibility and web-traffic exposure of it's own global gm.com web site home page - to energize this whole new web-based national community-engagement initiative. The site was designed with an upbeat and engaging educational front-end piece, supported by a simple user-friendly access to over 2000 local Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, Homeless Centers, Literacy Centers and Digital-Divide-Bridging helping agencies in cities like yours across the country.

The webhands.org site was dedicated to the national civic community by Mark Hogan, President of e-GM, in an outdoor ceremony for the homeless in Detroit on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas - the original Santa Claus - and was received on behalf of the community of helping organizations nationally by the Rev. Joseph Barlow, president of the MOSES Coalition - a group of over 60 Metro Detroit community groups involved in these same efforts.

But that was just the first step! Here's our invitation to you and your community!

Now that we're up and running with a successfully operating site, we can show you how webhands.org will support your own local efforts to address these chronic grassroots issues and invite you to take advantage of the site - and the exposure - to bring added energy to those efforts.

In the next two weeks we will be loading webhands.org with lists of local 501 (C) 3 non profits from cities across America that are focused on providing Food, Clothing, support for the Homeless, for Literacy efforts and for bridging the Digital-Divide in their communities.

We would ask you to help us ensure that your city’s food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless centers, literacy clinics and neighborhood technology centers are included so that they can benefit from the donors and volunteers that webhands.org attracts.

We’ll need as much detailed contact information and program support description as possible on the organizations - as well as an assurance that they are legitimate 501 (C) 3s - so that we can better link donors and volunteers for their support.

So take a look at http://www.webhands.org. Look at what it can do for both your city and your local helping organizations that are struggling for attention and support from your community. Again, the intent is to get people engaged with one another in community-building efforts . . . . to begin the dialogue that leads to relationship . . . which leads in turn to an enriched living environment for us all.

There is no cost, of course, and if we can help or advise you on how to best organize your local agency information for inclusion in webhands.org, just contact our webmaster at: egm.webmaster@gm.com. Note under “Instructions” on webhands.org that we also provide linking instructions - including use of the webhands logo - so that you can link folks from your city web site to your local helping organizations residing on the webhands.org site. This is an exciting initiative. I can’t tell you how delighted we are to have been able to build this unique community-engagement site.

We look forward to building better communities together.

Colette Mac Neil
Manager of e-GM Community Initiatives
(313) 974-7111
colette.macneil@gm.com

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DISCLAIMERS, NOTICES & POLICY STATEMENT

Accessing and using the Webhands.org web site constitutes the user's acceptance, without limitation, of the following policies, limitations, legal notices and disclaimers. 
Copyright, 2000 General Motors Corporation. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced or redistributed without the express written permission of General Motors Corporation. Webhands.org and the webhands.org logo are trademarks of General Motors Corporation. 

Accuracy and Completeness Disclaimer: Information contained or displayed on the WebHands.org web site has been obtained from or provided by web-based sources that e-GM and General Motors believe to have been accurate and reliable. However, e-GM and General Motors provide access to that publicly available information through "WebHands.org" for the convenience and assistance of the user "as is" and at the user's own risk and do not claim or suggest in any way that the list of agencies provided here is either complete or accurate. In addition to the accuracy and completeness of the information, neither e-GM nor General Motors guarantees or warrants the validity or legitimacy of information procured from sites on the World Wide Web or provided to e-GM or General Motors by webhands.org's national e-Giving partners. Neither e-GM nor General Motors endorses, sanctions, supports or verifies the information that is provided or displayed on this site or is linked to this site. Further, neither e-GM, General Motors nor any of the "webhands.org" national partners and agency list providers make any representations as to the accuracy, completeness or validity of the information that is provided or displayed on this site and expressly disclaim all express, implied or statutory warranties of any kind, including warranties as to accuracy, completeness, validity, timeliness, merchant ability and fitness for a particular purpose. Neither e-GM, General Motors, nor any of its national partners and national or local agency list providers will be liable for damages of any kind that may have been incurred as a result of information displayed or made available on or through this web site. e-GM and General Motors reserve the right, in their sole discretion and without obligation, to make improvements to or correct any error or omission in any portion of the information on this website. 

General Disclaimer: Neither e-GM nor General Motors is responsible for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive or any other damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this web site or in connection with the user's reliance on the information made available through this site. This includes but is not limited to personal injury, business interruption, loss of use, lost data, lost profits, or any other pecuniary loss, whether in an action of contract, negligence, or other tortious action. Further, neither e-GM nor General Motors is responsible for any personal or business disputes or claims that arise out of any relationships between the listed non-profit agencies and their volunteers, particularly in the area of web site design, development and support. "Webhands.org" assists in matching needy non-profit agencies with volunteer donations of food, clothing, supplies and volunteer time resources at no cost to the receiving agency. 

Privacy Statement: "Webhands.org" does not collect or facilitate monetary donations or transactions and does not solicit, track or store financial information of any kind. It is therefore not a secured site. e-GM and General Motors may periodically comply log profiles to track web site traffic in aggregate form on any portion or page of their site. It does not seek out or store the identity of any user. However, e-GM and General Motors disclaim any responsibility for the privacy policies and practices, or the content, of any web site which links to or from "webhands.org." 

Response to Queries and Comments Disclaimer: All reasonable effort will be made to respond to questions and comments directed to the "webhands.org" webmaster at egm.webmaster@gm.com within a reasonable time frame. Such responses, however, do not constitute legal or financial advice and e-GM and General Motors make no warranties, express or implied, about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in those responses.

Good Samaritan Laws: On October 1, 1996, President Clinton signed the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to encourage the donation of food and grocery products to non-profit organizations for distribution to needy individuals. This new law makes it easier to donate. 
Here's how:
•    It protects donors from liability when donating to a non-profit organization.
•    It protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product donated in good faith later cause harm to the needy recipient.
•    It standardizes donor liability exposure. Donors and their legal counsel no longer have to investigate liability laws in 50 states.
•    It sets a liability floor of "gross negligence" or intentional misconduct for persons who donate grocery products.
•    It recognizes that the provision of food close to recommended date of sale is, in and of itself, not grounds for finding gross negligence. For example, cereal can be donated if it is marked close to code date for retail sale.

NOTICE: This website is an archived version of most of the information found on WebHands.org.

 

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More Background On WebHands.org

 

Introduction

In the early 2000s, at the height of the dot-com boom, numerous corporations sought to leverage internet technologies not just for profit, but also for community impact. Among these was WebHands.org, a socially focused digital project launched by e-GM, the e-commerce division of General Motors (GM). Unlike many contemporaneous corporate web initiatives driven by sales metrics, WebHands.org was envisioned as a civic engagement platform — a digital bridge connecting donors, volunteers, and nonprofit organizations tackling some of society's most pressing problems: hunger, homelessness, illiteracy, and the digital divide.

Although short-lived, the project serves as a noteworthy historical case study of early corporate social responsibility (CSR) intersecting with web technology. Below, we dive into the origins, mission, content, reception, and cultural significance of WebHands.org, bringing to light a project that helped shape early 21st-century discussions about technology and community empowerment.

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Origins and Ownership

WebHands.org was launched under the umbrella of e-GM, General Motors' business-to-consumer (B2C) unit, during a time when the automotive giant was actively exploring new models for digital commerce and engagement. The platform was introduced in December 2000 by Mark Hogan, then-President of e-GM, during a public ceremony in Detroit, symbolically held on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas — the original Santa Claus — to underline the platform's philanthropic focus.

The initiative was publicly received by Reverend Joseph Barlow, representing the MOSES Coalition, a consortium of over 60 Detroit-based nonprofit organizations working on homelessness and poverty alleviation. GM, through WebHands.org, donated web infrastructure, technical design, and homepage visibility on GM.com, one of the most highly trafficked automotive sites at the time.

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The Mission

At its heart, WebHands.org was designed to be a digital gateway for compassionate action — a place where ordinary people could offer their "virtual hands" (or “WebHands”) to help others in need.

“Hands that give do not go away empty either.” – WebHands.org

The project encouraged people to extend their hands digitally to:

• Feed the hungry

• Clothe the homeless

• Support literacy programs

• Bridge the digital divide

Through curated directories and educational content, the site aimed to match users with legitimate nonprofit organizations, enabling meaningful participation in community upliftment — either through volunteering time, donating goods, or spreading awareness.

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Key Focus Areas and Services

WebHands.org organized its efforts across four key sectors of need, providing content, instructions, and directories for each.

1. Clothing Donations

• Stressed the importance of appropriate attire for individuals seeking employment.

• Addressed the "Catch-22" of needing professional clothing to secure a job but lacking the funds to buy them.

• Promoted clothing drives and time donations (e.g., organizing distribution or providing grooming tips).

• Focused particularly on children in poverty, disaster victims, and transitional job seekers.

2. Food Insecurity

• Cited alarming statistics such as 10% of the U.S. population experiencing hunger and 3.7 million people enduring severe discomfort from food scarcity.

• Encouraged users to donate canned goods, leftover food, or an hour of their time to local food banks and soup kitchens.

• Created a national database of over 2,000 food pantries and soup kitchens searchable via city or zip code.

3. Homelessness

• Spotlighted the growing number of working families still facing housing instability.

• Suggested simple yet impactful contributions like serving meals or showing displaced families around a new neighborhood.

• Offered practical opportunities for skill-based volunteering — from cooking to teaching.

4. Literacy

• Highlighted that 40 million U.S. adults lacked basic reading and arithmetic skills, severely limiting employment and civic participation.

• Noted that illiteracy cuts across all racial and ethnic lines but is tied closely to poverty.

• Encouraged volunteering for tutoring (reading, ESL, math) and also administrative support or event coordination for literacy nonprofits.

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Bridging the Digital Divide

One of the most forward-thinking aspects of WebHands.org was its direct engagement with the digital divide — the growing gap between those with internet access and computer literacy, and those without.

• The site aimed to democratize access to technology.

• Promoted neighborhood tech centers and digital literacy training.

• Served as a national portal for neighborhood agencies working to provide computers and training to underserved populations.

This initiative predated similar efforts by tech giants and foreshadowed the now-common inclusion of digital equity in corporate giving.

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Government & Civic Outreach

WebHands.org didn't operate in a vacuum. It actively invited partnerships with local governments, particularly mayors of U.S. cities.

A public letter from Colette MacNeil, Manager of e-GM Community Initiatives, laid out an invitation for mayors to:

• Submit local 501(c)(3) organization info for inclusion.

• Link their city websites to WebHands.org.

• Encourage community volunteers and donors to use the centralized GM-powered portal.

By offering GM's technical infrastructure, homepage visibility, and web traffic, the initiative was designed to give struggling local nonprofits a national stage.

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Design and User Experience

The site featured:

• An educational, emotionally engaging front-end with stories, statistics, and calls to action.

• Easy-to-navigate directories of nonprofits across categories.

• Instructions for participation (e.g., how to run a coat drive or food collection).

• No transactional capabilities — the platform explicitly avoided collecting money to protect user privacy and security.

• Tools for linking logos and banners on local government websites.

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Legal, Privacy, and Policy Framework

WebHands.org had a robust disclaimer and policy page, covering:

• Accuracy disclaimers regarding the nonprofit listings.

• Legal protections for donors under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.

• Explicit non-liability for user actions, data, or donations.

• No collection of user data or financial information — prioritizing anonymity and non-intrusiveness.

This risk-conscious architecture was rare at the time and likely helped protect GM from potential legal or financial complications.

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Audience and Popularity

Although short-lived, the platform was intended for a wide national audience, particularly:

• Individual volunteers

• Local civic leaders

• Donors of goods (vs. money)

• Nonprofits seeking visibility

• Families interested in community service

The early popularity was significant enough that e-GM had already signed up close to 3,000 nonprofits nationwide at launch, suggesting high early adoption.

Despite this, only two years of archives remain, implying the initiative was quietly shelved — likely due to:

• Changing corporate priorities at GM.

• Financial fallout following the early 2000s dot-com crash.

• Shifting focus toward more revenue-driven e-commerce initiatives.

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Historical Context and Cultural Significance

From a historical standpoint, WebHands.org represents an early model of online civic engagement, launching during a time when:

• Corporate America was just beginning to grapple with digital outreach beyond commerce.

• Nonprofit organizations lacked the technical tools to build national presence.

• The notion of "click-to-help" or virtual volunteering was still in its infancy.

Its cultural legacy lies in how it foreshadowed today’s:

• Corporate responsibility platforms (e.g., Salesforce.org, Microsoft Philanthropies)

• Online volunteering networks (e.g., VolunteerMatch, Catchafire)

• Digital fundraising campaigns and social impact tech startups

Moreover, its mission-driven focus on dignity, access, and equality framed the digital experience in humanistic rather than transactional terms.

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Examples and Impact

Even though it’s difficult to quantify the long-term impact due to its brief operational period, several key examples and outcomes emerged:

• Digital mapping of over 2,000 local organizations — years before Google Maps or Yelp offered nonprofit search tools.

• GM’s homepage exposure dramatically elevated small, local agencies otherwise invisible online.

• The site helped break down technical barriers for nonprofits new to the internet.

In testimonials and third-party reports, organizations cited increased volunteer sign-ups, more clothing and food donations, and greater visibility due to the WebHands listings.

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Press Coverage and Public Reception

While no major mainstream media coverage appears to have survived in digital archives, localized ceremonies (like the one in Detroit) drew attention in civic circles. The participation of large community coalitions like MOSES and the public letter to U.S. mayors further enhanced the site’s civic credibility.

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WebHands.org, though operational for only a short time, remains a visionary project that captured the essence of what the internet could become — not just a marketplace, but a meeting place for good.

It was a digitally forward, socially conscious initiative by a major corporation well ahead of its time, bridging technology and compassion through smart infrastructure, open invitations to government leaders, and a clear-eyed focus on real human needs.

Even in its archived form, WebHands.org stands as an early blueprint for how corporations can genuinely engage with the community — not through charitable write-offs, but by donating technological capacity and visibility to empower others.

 

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