Give thanks to the hard work of Beyond Belief Network Teams

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.

During September and October, six volunteers from Central Ohio United Non-Theists (COUNT) worked as Housewarmers a total of 51.2 hours 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 guests to provide a home-like environment. Among their responsibilities, they greet guests, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with check-in/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean the facility, do laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. Their nine Housewarmers try to volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month and have contributed 398 hours to date.

Minnesota Atheists prepared a hearty and healthy meal for twenty guests, including young children, at The Family Place, a local homeless shelter.

Fellowship of Freethought Dallas 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. On their night, Fellowship of Freethought Dallas grilled kebabs for the residents. In celebration of Halloween, they also decorated the dining room and included candy bags with the meal for the residents to take with them. One of the residents complimented their efforts, "Some of the things you guys serve may look different or a little scary but it always winds up being so good!"

Austin Atheists Helping the Homeless had a busy month! In October, volunteers from ATXAHH teamed up with volunteers from San Antonio Atheists & Humanists Helping the Homeless to run an information table at the 2014 Texas Homeless Network's Annual Conference in San Antonio (estimated attendance: 400). It was the first invitation ever received by an AHH group to participate in a conference of any sorts. For two days, volunteers covered the table, fielded questions about AHH and even had a collection bin nearby for conference attendees to donate their unused hotel toiletries. In addition to this event, ATXAHH also had another successful monthly donation drive and giveaway! Between September 22 and October 19, 2014, Austin Atheists Helping the Homeless collected and sorted $2,881 worth of basic living supplies to be distributed at their October giveaway. On October 19, 2014, twenty-six Austin Atheists Helping the Homeless volunteers met in Downtown Austin to distribute basic living supplies to people who are homeless. They served 145 people in thirty-five minutes. Their Gettin' Knotty guild members also contributed twenty-seven knitted/crocheted washcloths for the October 19th giveaway. Their attention will now turn to knitted hats and scarves for the winter months.

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.