Lotsa Helping Hands
Life happens. When a medical crisis looms, families need support for the daily chores that are suddenly overwhelming. Friends, family and community members are ready, willing and able. But there’s no good way to put them together. Organizing all those people and all those tasks is a daunting challenge that not many people are prepared for – especially when dealing with a major illness at the same time.
Now you can change that.
Lotsa Helping Hands is a free online service that makes it easy to help loved ones in need.
It’s an easy-to-use group calendar, specifically designed for organizing helpers, where everyone can pitch in with meals delivery, rides and other tasks necessary for life to run smoothly during a crisis. Needs are posted on a private, personalized Web site, where the group calendar is automatically updated. Members sign up to help and the calendar automatically tracks that too. Notification and reminder e-mails are sent to the appropriate parties.
Here’s how it works:
1. Choose a coordinator. Typically a family member or a close friend, this is the person who will register with the Lotsa Helping Hands service. You can have an enormous impact simply by helping someone in need take this crucial first step.
2. Register with Lotsa Helping Hands. By doing this, the coordinator creates the private Web site, which is ready for use immediately.
3. Add members. The coordinator adds the names and e-mail addresses of each person who is interested in helping (including other coordinators, if desired). Only these people can sign in to the Web site.
4. List what’s needed. Using easy, built-in forms, the coordinator adds specific needs for meals, rides, shopping, etc. Members are notified by e-mail when new needs are posted.
The system takes over from there. Members automatically receive a “welcome” e-mail about the site with sign-in information. They can see the group calendar and pitch in with whatever fits their own situation, confident that their efforts will be well directed. People in need can get help without having to make repeated personal appeals. Everyone knows what to do and when to do it. Energy is spent helping, not scheduling.
Getting a helping hand has never been easier.
