Humanists Doing Good This Holiday Season

It’s the holiday season, and local humanist groups are actively giving back to their communities in many ways: hosting charitable fundraisers for local nonprofits, collecting food items for local food banks, and sponsoring winter clothing drives.

For the third year in a row, the End of the Line Humanists in Oak Park, Illinois, will collect canned and packaged food, toiletries, and funds for the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry at their holiday social gathering on December 15. The local group even developed a helpful document of acceptable items for donation.

Several American Humanist Association humanist chapters are participating in toy drives by partnering with local non-profits.

The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago’s Sunday School is sponsoring a Holiday Toy and Gift Card Drive to benefit Between Friends Chicago, a local domestic violence prevention and support group. Their clients are women, often with young children, who are rebuilding their lives after abusive relationships. Members collect new toys for kids and grocery and department store gift cards for mothers.

For the second year in a row, the Humanist Community of the Space Coast in Satellite Beach, Florida, teamed up with the Children’s Home Society for the holiday season. Members of the group went to two different restaurants to pick up a “wish list ornament,” which names a gift that can be donated for the toy drive.

Last week, the Central Florida Freethought Community, which serves the Orlando, Florida, area, along with two other freethinking groups, hosted their annual STEM toy drive which provides math and science toys and books for homeless and domestic violence shelters in Central Florida. The group’s website includes details about drop-off information, pick-up service, and STEM gift ideas.

Two weeks ago, members of South Jersey Humanists in Atlantic County, New Jersey, collected winter clothes for a local thrift shop that supports the Arc of Atlantic County, a group that works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Jefferson Humanists of Golden, Colorado, participated in the Indian Reservation Coat Drive and “helped to warm Pine Ridge Residents.” On November 27,  members of theJefferson Humanists brought a carload of high quality coats, sweaters, blankets, socks, gloves, hats, tents, sleeping bags, and other warm items for distribution to people of the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. In addition, checks totaling over $500 will be used to purchase firewood and fresh food for elders and people with disabilities.

Throughout the entire year, but especially during the holiday season, members of Freethought Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Indiana, make and distribute care packages for the homeless. They fill gallon Ziplock bags with items such as socks, mittens, snacks, hygienic items, and others necessary for the colder season to “help make things just a little more bearable for those less fortunate.”

During the holiday season,  the Morganton Humanist Alliance in Morganton, North Carolina, are donating supplies to the Meeting Place Mission, a local homeless shelter. Additionally, they’ve started a social media campaign to encourage folks to engage in “Random Acts of Kindness.” They have created a cheeky video for it and an event where people have been posting their stories and deeds.

Have you or your local humanist group given back to your local community during the holiday season and would like to share it with others? Leave a comment below!

Tags: Local Groups