HandsNet - The Early Years

Since its founding in 1987, when it was created as a project of Hands Across America, HandsNet has brought online over 25,000 individuals and 5,000 organizations focused on children and families, housing and community development, health care, hunger, legal services, and related human services concerns, strengthening the impact of their work and their connections with each other.

The following describes the founding of HandsNet (reprinted from AppleLink)

Electronic Network to Aid the Hungry and Homeless
Author: Applelink

Pilot Project to Connect 50 Agencies

The Eureka Food Bank is a participant in a pilot project which will substantially improve the availability and quality of services to hungry and homeless people in California.

This program was announced by USA for Africa/Hands Across America and Apple Computer, Inc. For the first time ever, 50 organizations for the hungry and homeless will be electronically linked through a computer network made possible by a donation of personal computer systems from Apple Computer.

The project, called HandsNet, will initially involve 48 California-based programs and two agencies in Washington D.C. The network will directly or indirectly allow hundreds of service providers to benefit from each other's experience, resources and research by enhancing intra-agency communications and establishing access to relevant and timely information.

HandsNet is supported with a donation of personal computer systems, printers and telephone modems from Apple, valued at $250,000, and a $140,000 grant to the California Organizing Committee for the Hungry and Homeless by Hands Across America in its efforts to eliminate hunger and homelessness. The creation of the network marks Apple's largest single telecommunications grant to date. The Eureka Food Bank received a Macintosh SE with an internal hard drive, a modem and Microsoft Works.

The idea for HandsNet was proposed to Apple by the California Organizing Committee, whose charter was to distribute $1.2 million in Hands Across America funds and coordinate the programs and resources of service providers within the state in order to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.

Specific examples of how HandsNet can assist public and private efforts to develop long-term solutions to the problems of homelessness and hunger include the following:

The initial phase of HandsNet will involve 50 service organizations. These participating agencies make up a pilot group that will ultimately determine the potential of a nationwide computer network. The group includes a balance between urban and rural areas and hunger and homeless services. It is also equally divided between small and large groups. For example, the California Homeless Coalition represents more than 500 shelters, and the California Food Network links more than 80 food pantries, food banks and gleaning programs. Smaller groups participating in HandsNet, in some cases, are run by churches.

Apple will provide the telecommunications network on which HandsNet will operate. Project staff will also establish a parallel network in order to develop an interactive data base for the collection of demographic and statistical data. This information will be posted on the HandsNet system.

In order to establish HandsNet, additional donations have been made by Microsoft Corporation; Layered, Inc.; Interactive Network Technologies; Solana Electronics; Sand Hill Engineering; Quasitronics, Inc.; and Barnett Associates.

Apple Gives Grants To Nonprofit Groups

Under the Community Affairs program, Apple Corporate Grants awards computer systems to nonprofit social service and arts groups. Awards are made in five categories: the arts, the disabled, citizen action, research and development, and innovation challenge (innovative uses of computers in the nonprofit sector). Groups are working in such areas as housing, substance abuse, the needs of the elderly, and refugeeism.

Guidelines require, among other things, that groups be classified as 501(c) 3 by the IRS, have full-time paid staff, maintain regular office hours, and have annual budgets of less than $500,000.

The program emphasizes the awarding of computer systems to networks of groups that are working on similar problems. The intention is that networking via computer will enable groups to share resources and information, to collaborate on major projects, and to access centralized sources of information.

Community Affairs grantees are located throughout the United States. The Cupertino office can provide interested parties with information about groups in their geographic area or area of social service.

Deadlines for submitting proposals are November 15 and April 15. For complete guidelines and application forms, contact Apple Corporate Grants, 20525 Mariani Avenue M/S 5-B, Cupertino, CA 95014.

Grants to National Organizations

Apple Corporate Grants has partnership arrangements with the United Way, Volunteer The National Center, National Endowment for the Arts, and P.A.C.T. (Private Agencies Collaborating Together).

Under these partnerships, Apple grants large numbers of computer systems to the national agencies, which in turn are responsible for equipment distribution, training, technical support, and follow-up.

Guidelines for these partnerships vary from organization to organization. Local agencies that are members of these national groups should inquire directly to the appropriate national office to find out more about their computer-related programs.

This is an edited version of articles downloaded from AppleLink.