Beyond Belief Network Teams fall into service

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.

Humanists Doing Good collaborated with the Grow Another Row organization to harvest apples, which were later donated to community food banks in Grand Junction, Colorado. Volunteers met three times to pick and sort apples. Altogether, they managed to pick and donate 1,472 pounds of apples to the food banks.

Fellowship of Freethought Dallas hosted a cocktail party to raise money for the North Texas Food Bank. Their goal was to match the funds raised up to $1000, and the North Texas Food Bank would in turn match all funds donated in August. The event was held at the home of one of their amateur astronomers. They viewed Saturn and other astronomical bodies while enjoying wine, beer, and cocktails. Three items were available for auction including an astronomy poster. The team raised $750 that night and later received a letter of thanks from the food bank coordinator. Fellowship of Freethought Dallas also volunteered at the Supper Club program of AIDS Service of Dallas, a 501(c)3 organization that provides medically supportive housing to low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Supper Club program provides residents with a hot, nutritious, home-cooked meal every night. This month's dinner featured an Italian theme, with some of the unique features being mini-lasagnas and homemade eggplant parmesan. The team is pleased to report that there were very few leftovers.

Five members of Minnesota Atheists repackaged 2,929 lbs. of donated food products at the Emergency Food Network warehouse, enough to serve 197 people.

Three Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) volunteers worked as Housewarmers for a total of 12.5 hours in August 2014 at the Columbus Ohio Ronald McDonald House (RMH). RMH provides housing and meals to families with children being treated at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and other area hospitals. Housewarmers work with the guests to provide a home-like environment. Their duties include greeting guests, assisting with family needs, answering phones, giving tours, assisting with check-in/checkout, preparing guest rooms after checkout, cleaning the facility, laundry, restocking supplies and staffing the front desk. Their nine Housewarmers try to volunteer for at least one four-hour shift a month and have contributed 344 hours to date.

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 demonstrate that all we really need is charity and goodness to make the world a better place.