Beyond Belief Network
Participating in Humanist Communities Makes a Difference
Like many humanists I was raised religious. In the years that followed my apostasy, sometimes I missed the camaraderie and community: church potlucks, theatrical plays, holiday celebrations, and charitable volunteering and fundraising. Studies show that community is important for pro-social behavior, volunteerism, health, happiness, and well-being. Community connection can be complicated in today’s society, though,…
Read MoreJoin us August 25th for a Beyond Belief Network Mix and Mingle!
Our Beyond Belief Network (BBN) is a collective of over 100 local volunteer teams in 28 states and seven countries that puts compassion into action through community service! You’ve been hearing a lot on our Fireside Chat programs about the five teams we’ve been giving grants to for food security projects, but there is a…
Read MoreJuly Beyond Belief Network Roundup!
We just finished rounding up reports of what teams in our volunteer network did for their communities in July! Here’s a by-the-numbers rundown on what teams reported: Teams receiving grants as part of our Food Security Project reported: Total food security events held: 17 Total volunteer hours given: 301 Total individual beneficiaries served: 829 Total…
Read MoreJune Beyond Belief Network Roundup!
We just finished rounding up reports from BBN volunteer teams for the month of June! Recognitions Please welcome one the latest BBN Team, Humanists of Tallahassee! Team of the Month for June goes to Fellowship of Freethought-Dallas. After postponing in-person events for 16 months, these volunteers returned to serving meals at the Ewing House: a…
Read MoreChildhood and Food Insecurity: A Fireside Chat
According to the USDA, households with children were nearly 1.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity even before COVID-19. This number more than doubled due to the pandemic, with food insecurity affecting almost 1 in 4 families. Food insecurity results in many negative outcomes for children, including the ability to learn and graduation rates.…
Read MoreWhat keeps food security volunteers going in Florida?
Food insecurity is a tough crisis to face. What keeps front-line volunteers going? What can concerned people do, and why should they do it? And just how worth it is it, really? To answer some of these questions, we’re interviewing members of the five rockstar Beyond Belief Network teams receiving grants through our Food Security…
Read MoreWhy Kids Need a Summer Without Hunger
Every day 13 million children in the U.S. aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from. One in six kids don’t have enough to eat at least some of the time. While that number is significant, during summer months it’s even more alarming, nearly doubling as kids lose access to school lunch and breakfast…
Read MoreHurricane Season To Exacerbate Food Insecurity
June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season. When hurricanes hit they can demolish homes, devastate communities and displace people. In most cases electricity is cut, and keeping food fresh is impossible. Food insecurity is a significant dilemma that always emanates in the event of a disaster like a hurricane. An estimated seven million…
Read MoreMay Beyond Belief Network Roundup!
We just finished rounding up reports from BBN volunteer teams for the month of May — including what teams reported for Secular Week of Action! Let’s check it out…
Read MoreAnti-Homeless Laws Across the U.S. Criminalize Survival
U.S. cities with a high number of people without housing keep passing new laws to push unhoused people out of view. Camping is often banned, as well as sleeping in public and living in vehicles. People are routinely evicted from encampments, many losing their belongings. Government restriction of these essential, life-sustaining activities criminalizes the very…
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