Hand Up

What Hand Up does

Hand-Up, Inc., doing business as the Voluntary Action Center (VAC), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 and headquartered at 343 South Wall Street, Calhoun, Georgia, where it delivers a consolidated suite of emergency assistance programs to low-income residents of Gordon County. Its core offerings include a free Community Kitchen (serving lunch and dinner Monday–Friday with no eligibility criteria), a Food Pantry distributing grocery bags to households at or below 180% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, Emergency Financial Assistance for rent, mortgage, utility disconnection prevention, and emergency hotel vouchers, Laundry and Shower Facilities, the Thrift Store (its largest income source), Operation Happy Christmas, a Senior Box Program, Food Drives, and Volunteer and Community Service programs. The organization has no proprietary technology product; its operational stack consists of off-the-shelf SaaS — Volgistics for volunteer tracking, Charity Tracker (shared via the Gordon County Community Services Network) for cross-agency services coordination, PayPal for online donations, and Mailchimp for newsletters.

VAC's business model is diversified nonprofit fundraising rather than commercial sales: services are free to recipients and funded through Thrift Store sales, United Way of Gordon County foundational funding, grants from the Ratner and Mohawk Foundations, a 2012 $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from Gordon County Government, tiered corporate sponsorships (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze), individual monetary donations, and planned giving instruments including bequests and charitable gift annuities. The go-to-market is community-led: outreach is driven by referrals from United Way, churches, schools, local government, and courts, with no commercial advertising. In 2025, VAC served 4,489 families with 41,904 essential services, including 32,694 meals, 6,102 grocery bags, eviction prevention for 328 individuals across 140 households, and utility disconnection prevention for 254 individuals across 92 households — operations supported by 9,000+ annual volunteer hours and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The organization has held the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency for five consecutive years (top 0.1% of U.S. nonprofits) and received the 2016 COSCDA Sterling Achievement Award for Homeless Outreach.

Name

Hand Up

Legal name

Hand-Up, Inc.

Website

https://voluntaryactioncenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hand-Up, Inc. dba Voluntary Action Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that delivers free emergency assistance — meals, groceries, rent/utility aid, laundry/shower facilities, and holiday programs — to low-income residents of Gordon County, Georgia, funded by its thrift store, United Way, grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services / Emergency Assistance

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) / Emergency Social Assistance (BPADADAI)

Keywords

• Emergency food assistance
• Hunger prevention services
• Homelessness prevention programs
• Community social services
• Thrift store retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Carhoon

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Thrift Store Sales: The thrift store is the largest source of income for the organization. Accepts donated clothing, household items, and small tools; sells them at discounted prices. Proceeds fund all VAC programs and ensure services remain free to recipients.
2. United Way of Gordon County Funding: Long-term partnership with United Way of Gordon County provides foundational funding that allows the organization to focus on programs and services.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: Supported by Ratner Foundation, Mohawk Foundation, and other grants. Received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant in 2012 for expansion.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze). Sponsors include local businesses and organizations in Gordon County.
5. Individual Monetary Donations: Individual donors contribute via cash, check, card (in-person or by phone), or PayPal. Donations can be directed to specific programs (Community Kitchen, Operation Happy Christmas, Emergency Financial Assistance) or made in honor/memory of someone.
6. Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Donors can leave bequests in wills, set up charitable gift annuities, designate IRA rollovers, or establish charitable trusts. These instruments provide tax benefits to donors while supporting the organization long-term.
7. Community Service Fees: Court-ordered community service workers are accepted (upon eligibility review); the service provides labor while generating referral relationships with the court system. Voluntary community service is tracked but free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hand-Up, Inc. dba Voluntary Action Center (VAC) operates a suite of free emergency assistance programs for Gordon County, Georgia residents in need, including a Community Kitchen providing free daily meals, a Food Pantry distributing groceries, Emergency Financial Assistance (rent/mortgage, utility disconnection prevention, hotel vouchers), Laundry and Shower Facilities, Christmas Assistance programs for children and seniors, and a Senior Box Program. The Thrift Store sells donated clothing and household items at discounted prices and serves as the organization's largest source of income funding all free programs.

Product overview

Hand-Up, Inc. DBA Voluntary Action Center (VAC) is a community-based non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of emergency resource programs focused on hunger and homelessness prevention in Gordon County, Georgia. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs: the Community Kitchen provides free daily meals; the Food Pantry distributes groceries to eligible residents; Emergency Financial Assistance helps prevent evictions and utility disconnections; Laundry and Shower Facilities serve homeless individuals; the Thrift Store generates operational income while providing affordable goods; and seasonal programs including Operation Happy Christmas (Christmas Assistance) and the Senior Box Program provide holiday and ongoing support. Additional programs include Food Drives, Community Service tracking, Volunteer coordination, and fundraising events like the Strike Out Hunger Bowling Tournament and Singing for Toys. These programs work together as an integrated service network, with all offerings provided free to recipients thanks to funding from the Thrift Store, United Way, grants, and individual donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Kitchen A meal service program providing free lunch and dinner to anyone in need, regardless of eligibility criteria. Meals are served dine-in for lunch and dine-in or takeout for dinner at the VAC office.
• Food Pantry / Food Bank A food distribution program providing grocery bags to Gordon County residents at or below 180% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Individuals can request assistance once every 30 days.
• Emergency Financial Assistance Emergency assistance program offering rent/mortgage assistance, utility disconnection prevention, and emergency hotel vouchers for Gordon County residents facing documented hardships or emergencies.
• Laundry and Shower Facilities Free shower and laundry facilities available to homeless individuals or those experiencing temporary loss of services. Basic toiletries, towels, and laundry detergent are provided.
• Thrift Store A retail thrift store offering clothing, household items, furniture, and other donated goods at discounted prices. Functions as the organization's largest source of income to support free programs.
• Operation Happy Christmas (Christmas Assistance Program) Annual Christmas assistance program providing toys and clothing to children in Gordon County. Partners with AdventHealth EMS and sponsors to serve children ages 0-18, with each family receiving a grocery gift card.
• Senior Box Assistance Program Community-driven program providing essential resources including Christmas gifts and meal boxes to seniors aged 62 and older who fall at or below 180% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 4,489 families with 41,904 essential services in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of Gordon CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term foundational partnership. United Way provides funding that allows VAC to focus on programs and services. Without United Way support, VAC's programs and services would be significantly reduced. This is the organization's primary institutional funding partner.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWalmart partners on the annual Singing for Toys event (established 1997) and Christmas Programs. Walmart hosts the event and provides toy collection. Also a Platinum-level community partner. Walmart's Calhoun store supports VAC's Christmas sponsorship and toy donation programs.
• AdventHealth (Gordon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventHealth (specifically AdventHealth Gordon and AdventHealth EMS) partners with VAC on Operation Happy Christmas Program to collect monetary donations and new toys, ensuring every child on the Christmas Assistance list receives clothing and toys. AdventHealth EMS hosts the 100-100-100 Campaign.
• Gordon County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGordon County Schools participate in the annual Fired Up Food Drive (donating ~85% of all food at VAC) and the Singing for Toys event through school chorus departments. Also partner on community service tracking and referral of families in need.
• TruistminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTruist partners with VAC to provide Financial Education Classes. Completion of these classes is a requirement for Christmas Assistance eligibility. The partnership helps qualify families for the Christmas Assistance Program.
• Gordon County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGordon County Government sponsors the organization (provided a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant in 2012), and multiple county departments participate in community partnerships and board representation.
• Gordon County Community Services NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAC helped establish the Gordon County Community Services Network in 2007, which uses Charity Tracker for services tracking to coordinate assistance across partner agencies and prevent duplication of services.
• Gordon County Fire, Police, EMS, and Public Safety DepartmentsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipate in the annual First Responders Food Drive Competition (July). The 2025 drive collected a record 42,642 food items. Departments compete to collect the most donations for the VAC Food Pantry.
• Calhoun City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in the annual Fired Up Food Drive and Singing for Toys event through school chorus departments. Board member represents Calhoun City Schools on VAC's Board of Directors.
• Builtwell BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum-level community partner supporting VAC through corporate sponsorship and community involvement.
• Shaw IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold-level community partner. Board member from Shaw Industries serves on VAC's Board of Directors.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• United Way Worldwide: Federated network of local United Way chapters that fund community-based health and human services. The Gordon County United Way is VAC's primary institutional funder. Strongest model and operational analog for a community-driven social services nonprofit, even though United Way is a grantmaker rather than direct service provider.
• Northwest Georgia Food Bank (GA Mountain Food Bank): Regional food bank covering the broader northwest Georgia region including Gordon County area. Closest direct peer for the food-distribution half of VAC's mission; both serve overlapping donor and partner networks and coordinate through community services networks.
• Good Neighbor of Gordon County: Local faith-based social services nonprofit in Calhoun, GA providing emergency assistance (food, clothing, financial assistance) to Gordon County residents. Most direct local peer — same county, same population, same service mix — and the most direct comparison for fundraising capacity and program breadth.
• St. Vincent de Paul Society: Faith-inspired volunteer network that delivers rent/utility assistance, food, and holiday support to low-income households at the parish/community level. Directly comparable in operating philosophy (volunteer-led, no eligibility hoops for core services) and program mix to VAC.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National network of parish- and agency-based social service providers offering emergency financial assistance, food, housing support, and holiday programs — closely mirroring VAC's service portfolio but typically affiliated with the Catholic Church and operating across larger geographies.
• Goodwill Industries International: Operates a national network of thrift/retail stores whose proceeds fund free community programs (job training, employment). Directly comparable revenue model to VAC's Thrift Store engine, and the broader nonprofit-thrift-store hybrid structure. Much larger and multi-state, so it competes mainly as a brand and as a model reference rather than in Gordon County.
• The Salvation Army: National nonprofit that delivers emergency social services (food, rent/utility assistance, holiday giving, shelter) funded heavily by thrift-store revenue. Mirrors VAC's full-stack model (meals + financial assistance + holiday programs + thrift) at national scale. Comparable program architecture and donor base logic.
• Feeding America: National hunger-relief network aggregating donated food and distributing through a member food bank system. Directly comparable to the VAC Food Pantry and Community Kitchen model, but operates at national scale and is upstream of local pantries rather than a peer.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity International: Local Habitat affiliates deliver housing-related assistance (critical home repair, foreclosure prevention) to low-income households, paralleling VAC's eviction-prevention and utility-disconnection work. Both are volunteer-driven community nonprofits, but Habitat is housing-only while VAC is broader emergency assistance.
• Food Bank of Northeast Georgia: Regional food bank serving a multi-county area in northeast Georgia with food distribution, mobile pantries, and partner-agency support. Closest geographic peer to VAC's Food Pantry operation; both rely on donated food, food drives, and partner-agency networks. Different geography (NE GA vs NW GA) but highly comparable model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hand Up