Atheist Volunteers

Before we started the above chip-in, non-believers raised $1,113 in just a few months. Here is what that fundraiser looked like, along with some comments.

OUR NEXT GIVEAWAY IS SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2010 AT 8AM.

Atheists Helping the Homeless is a new, and still very small group of Atheists who are helping the homeless here in Austin, Texas, by giving them free items that fall into the category of toiletries. Not food, mainly because that's already well covered by other help groups. Very few groups around here give out free toiletries, so we focus on filling that gap in help.

We've received donations of money and items to give away from all over the nation, but we need more. We need to let more Atheists know about this project, so we can help more homeless folks.

The goals of this project are, in order of priority:

1 To help some folks in need,
2 To show by example that the idea that Atheists don't care and don't help people in need, is very very false, and
3 To have fun.

We've already succeeded with all three of those goals with the five giveaways we've done so far. We're now doing them once per month, and the biggest challenge has been to spread the word about this all over, so we can get more donations, and help more people in need. 100% of all donations go to paying for these items we give out.

We're growing and making some changes here and there, so the ChipIn module has been reset to reflect one of those changes. We've taken in more than $1,000 through that module and Paypal. Thank you donors! :o)

Before we started the above chip-in, non-believers raised $1,113 in just a few months. Here is what that fundraiser looked like, along with some comments.

Any donation any size is helpful. This will give you an idea of how far your donation can go:

toothbrushes - 4 for $3.97
toothpaste - $.97 for a travel size
socks - Around $6-9. for a package of 6 tube socks
bar soap - 7 bars wrapped indivudually for around $7.
toilet paper - individually wrapped rolls, the least expensive we can find.
shampoo - $.97 for a small bottle, good for around 2 shampoos
disposable shavers - Bic sensitive single blade is the best quality for the lowest price.
hand sanitizer - travel size around a dollar per bottle.
bottled water - about 30 cents a bottle.
winter gloves - around $2 per pair
1 gallon ziploc baggies to put it all in.
granola bars - Individually wrapped, any flavor.

For more info, contact Joe Zamecki in Austin at: jzamecki at atheists dot org

We've gotten a TON of positive comments from fellow Atheists, so we just have to share some of them with you:
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"The Atheist Helping the Homeless (AHH) project is well worth emulation around the nation. There are many ways to help our fellow human beings, but reaching out to the homeless takes strength of character. This group of atheist volunteers services the homeless community without bias. They open their hearts to people who have isolated themselves from society for various reasons. There are many homeless humans who must feel abandoned, rejected and un-cared-for. The AHH project proves that there are people who will help -- not for the reward of heaven -- not from a fear of Hell -- but because they really care. The way to solve human problems is through human action. This basic fact is recognized by members of AHH. Prayers are useless -- humans are priceless."

Margaret Downey
Secular Officiant
www.secular-celebrations.com
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"Thanks Joe, you're a blessing from your mom and dad!" Brian Sapient, Pennsylvania http://www.briansapient.com/blog/
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"Atheists Helping the Homeless is a project that is both inspirational and humanistic at its core. I hope atheist groups in other cities can see what's happening in Austin and modify the service project to suit their own cities' needs. It's an idea that needs to spread and I'm sure everyone involved will be better off because of it."

Hemant Mehta, chair of the Secular Student Alliance and blogger at friendlyatheist.com
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"It is our basic empathy, caring and recognition of the value of reciprocity that provides for the greater good of the human family and something that we all have in common. No God(s)ess(es) required. All our best regards to Atheists Helping Homeless, keep up the great work!"

Steve Schlicht, veteran police officer and organizer of The Great Southern Humanist Society, a grassroots gathering of atheists, humanists and non-religious, secular freethinkers who are active in community service and volunteerism in Southern Mississippi.
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"Halleluia! Positive Atheism! Good work, Joe!" Michelle Gadush, Austin
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"That program is one of the most progressive and laudable efforts by those of the non-believer status I've known. If you conceived it, WELL-DONE!" Ken Hughes, Texas
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"I am so proud of you and your team of volunteers...keep up the good work!"
Sundiata Xián Tellem H.H.P, Dallas http://www.dallas-una.org
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"It's just a fantastic idea and one that should really be spread all across the country." Adam (AKA Youtube user themanofearth)
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"Great idea and thanks for being an inspiration!"
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"Oh wow, I work in a charity shop back here in my free time. But I've done nowhere near as much groundwork as you guys."
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"Well done, it's great what you're doing. I wish I could help you there on the ground in Austin, but I live in Europe. Anyway bravo. From a brother atheist."
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"Thanks for the work you're doing to help the homeless."
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"Great idea on many levels, Joe."
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"You are the greatest."
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"I think it's a great idea. You'll be helping atheists earn a better rep, and helping our fellow humans, at the same time. Good job!"
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"Awesome, man. I'm thinking of doing this here in Colorado as well."
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"Absolutely great idea. I'll be contacting you soon seeing how I can help. Much respect from Houston."
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"Really good idea. Feel free to contact me if you need any help, or at the least I would love to donate some stuff."
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"The idea to give away toiletries is terrific..."
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"Thanks. On behalf of humanity. This is a good idea. :)"
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"I think it's a great idea. These items should help boost the morale and dignity of these unfortunate people."
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"Fantastic idea to help with hygiene and getting people on their feet."
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"You have a very good idea. Food is important but they still need other things like you're saying.
Good luck in doing this. Just a few words of encouragement."
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"I think the t-shirt is a good idea, like you said Atheists do good works too. I think it is a good idea all together."
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Please login and give your own comments! We appreciate it! :o)

Atheists Helping the Homeless has been featured on the following blogs:

Brian Sapient http://www.briansapient.com/blog/
Friendly Atheist http://friendlyatheist.com/
No God Blog http://atheists.org/blog/
Atheist Media Blog http://www.atheistmedia.com/
God Discussion http://www.goddiscussion.com/
The Out Campaign http://en.outcampaign.org/fgs
Daylight Atheism http://www.daylightatheism.org/
That Atheist Bitch http://thatatheistbitch.blogspot.com/
The Atheist Abyss http://atheistabyss.ning.com/
Escape From Dogma http://escapefromdogma.blogspot.com/
Atheist Charities http://www.squidoo.com/Atheist-Charities
Proud Atheists http://proudatheists.wordpress.com/

Atheists Helping the Homeless has also been featured at Examiner.com:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2044-Atheism-Examiner~y2009m11d4-Atheists-helping-the-homeless-in-Austin

And Library.com:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/78485

And Cast TV:
http://www.casttv.com/search/Atheists%20Helping%20the%20Homeless/1

And Steve Pavilina's blog:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/forums/character-contribution/41565-athiests-helping-homeless.html

And the Austin Atheist Newsletter:
http://www.atheist-community.org/library/newsletters/2010-01.pdf

And SharkLauncher.com:
http://sharklauncher.com/post/221987931/austin-atheists-helping-the-homeless-atheist

And Atheists Today:
http://atheiststoday.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=1150&pid=15826#post_15826

And People Under the Bridge News:
http://www.nme.com/artists/people-under-the-bridge

If you run a blog, or are in the media in any way, please help us spread the word about this. Thanks!

We greatly appreciate the help we've received from the Out Campaign!

We now have a group on Atheist Nexus:
http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/atheistshelpingthehomeless

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