BBN teams work for a better world

Foundation Beyond Belief’s Beyond Belief Network is a network of secular humanist groups volunteering in their communities and raising money for FBB’s featured charities and programs. Any group with a public secular humanist or atheist identity is welcome to join, regardless of experience or group size. Our teams have been hard at work in December, proudly displaying humanism at work! During December we are encouraging everyone to keep toy safety in mind when making holiday purchases for children.

Secular Hub recently sorted medical supplies for Project C.U.R.E, a nonprofit that collects medical supplies and equipment from hospitals and other medical facilities and ships them to clinics and hospitals in poor countries, where the supplies are desperately needed. Secular Hub also hosted a tea party and Bead for Life party at which they raised more than $600 to help East African women lift their families out of extreme poverty.

Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) volunteered as housewarmers at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House. Ronald McDonald House provides housing and meals to families with children being treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and other local hospitals. Housewarmers work with Ronald McDonald House guests to provide a home-like environment: they greet families, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checking in and out, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean the facility, do laundry, restock supplies, and staff the front desk. COUNT members volunteer as housewarmers for at least one four-hour shift a month.

Lehigh Valley Humanists (LVH) hosted a speaker who discussed the teaching of intelligent design in PA schools and had some fun playing an ID/FSM Jeopardy game. LVH hosted a Pastafarian Pasta Drive to benefit Catasauqua Food Bank. The food bank was originally affiliated with a church, but the church forced the food bank out of the building when they couldn't afford to pay for the building's upgrade. One of LVH's members owns a warehouse and lets the food bank use it for free.

Humanist Community of Central Ohio recently hosted a blood drive in their office building. They had their largest recruitment ever with 28 registrations, five walk-ins, and one volunteer. They were able to collect 21 units of blood overall, two more units than the target set by the Red Cross. This collection can help save up to 60 lives!

Siouxland Freethinkers collected toys and other items needed for a local children’s shelter, Children’s Inn. The collection was held during their monthly meeting. Members unable to attend the meeting were able to donate early. Check out the items donated to Children’s Inn below.

Humanists and Freethinkers of Cape Fear held a holiday toy drive to benefit Duke University's clinic for children up to age 18. They also held a school supply collection to benefit school-aged children at Mother Hubbard's Cupboard. Due to space and availability restrictions, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard wasn't able to give out backpacks, but did hand out various school supplies.

If you are a member of a secular humanist or atheist group and would like to participate in community service projects under the national umbrella of Foundation Beyond Belief, join Beyond Belief Network. We welcome all atheist groups interested in service, from groups with extensive volunteer experience to newly formed groups new to secular service. By aggregating our efforts, we show the world that all we really need is charity and goodness to make the world a better place.