If you were passionate about volunteering in your community, COVID-19 and the statewide stay-at-home order likely threw a wrench in your plans. But the Austin Tech Alliance, a nonprofit looking to encourage the Austin tech community to give back, wants to ensure people keep volunteering during these crucial times.
On Tuesday, the Austin Tech Alliance launched Lend a Hand ATX. This initiative hopes to connect skilled tech professionals with community organizations that need their help.
Organizations that need help with things like building a website, boosting their social media presence or creating online ordering capabilities can create an account on the Lend a Hand ATX website. Then, tech workers can browse these requests and offer to help, or they can post a listing offering whatever specific skills they have.
“Stay-at-home tech workers have the desire and in-demand skills that our community needs,” Sarah Ortiz Shields, the executive director of Austin Tech Alliance, said in a statement. “We’re asking them to step up in the fields of branding, content, design, hardware needs, strategy, social media, IT services, and tutoring to support nonprofits, community members and small businesses in Austin.”
Even if they don’t volunteer, people can help Lend a Hand ATX and similar programs by donating to the ATA or becoming a member. Some of the biggest tech companies in Austin are already members, including Facebook, Google, Lyft, Silicon Labs, Uber and more.
