Beyond Belief Network October round up

In October we welcome three new Beyond Belief Network teams: Project Shoehorn in Austin, TX, New Orleans Secular Humanist Association (NOSHA), and Jefferson Humanists in Golden, CO. Welcome! We can’t wait to hear about what you are doing to make a difference in your communities! 

Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation Community Service Committee, in Evanston, IL, collected books in October for Bernie's Book Bank, a resource that provides free new and lightly used books for children who need them in their (suburban Chicago) area. Then the team met at a Bernie’s Book Bank sorting facility in Lake Bluff, IL to sticker books and pack take-home bags for distribution at area schools. Bernie's Book Bank is a previous Humanist Grants beneficiary! Great combo collection and donated time event! (featured photo above)

We’ve already heard from NOSHA who had two collections in October! Every month at their monthly meeting NOSHA community members bring food for the Second Harvest Food Bank at the monthly meetings. In October 61 lbs was collected! In addition to their regular monthly collection, NOSHA collected for UNITY of Greater New Orleans, an organization that houses hundreds of people living with disability and chronic homelessness people. When UNITY spoke at NOSHA’s August monthly meeting they mentioned that they could use cleaning supplies, linens, and toiletries. In October, they collected a car load of supplies for UNITY. Great job NOSHA! 

Secular Humanists of Roanoke partnered up with Habitat for Humanity to help out at one of their construction sites where they are building a new house from the foundation up. This was a great first outing with Habitat for them and they are hoping it will be the first of many. In just 5 hours, they were able to complete their task for the day. Looking forward to hearing how your relationship grows! 

Since its beginning, Camden County Humanists, from Blackwood, NJ, has participated in the Light The Night Walk, a fundraising effort of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Over the years they have raised several thousand dollars in this effort and they continued that effort this year. This year Camden County Humanists raised over $670 and participated in their walk. Also, their current President, Fred Picknally, volunteered his time to Light the Night on the day of the event to help them set up and register people. It was a great team effort all around. Your commitment to the cause is really making a difference!

Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) and Humanist Community of Central Ohio (HCCO)  in Columbus, OH joined forces again for their monthly Community Shelter Board (CSB) event. This was COUNT and HCCO’s 34th joint shelter event. 

The joined forces with COUNT for the joint Bleed-n-Feed event they hold every other month. After the event, donors have a meal together at a nearby restaurant. COUNT’s second CSB event of the month was a joint event with HCCO. This was their 33rd joint event at the shelter! 

COUNT had two more events in October! They returned to CSB for their 3rd joint shelter event with the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio (IACO). COUNT member volunteered as housewarmers at Columbus Ohio Ronald McDonald House (RMH), which provides housing and meals to families with children being treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and other area hospitals. We’re sure CSB and RMH appreciate your regular and consistent help!

Great work, BBN teams!