Atheists
Helping The
Homeless
Atheists Helping the Homeless was founded in September of 2009 in Austin, Texas by three proud Atheists who wanted to help people in need.
We found that not only was Austin becoming the homeless mecca of the state, but that a lot of preaching at the homeless was going on. On Sundays, homeless folks gather under I-35 at 7th Street in downtown Austin, for a little help.
Several church groups go there on Sundays for a day-long series of sporadic giveaways of food, clothing, etc., and to dish out a heaping helping of preaching and religious music.
We wanted to help, but without adding to the preaching, so instead of donating to a religious help group working there, we decided to start our own help group.
A totally secular approach, and an effort to fill a need that we saw wasn't being addressed enough: Toiletries and more, under the freeway - without the preaching. For over a year now, it's worked, and we've helped over 1,500 homeless folks so far.
Join Them On Facebook: Atheists Helping The Homeless
At the moment, i am currently setting up a local group here in Australia, and i offer to anyone else out there interested in helping out a cause such as this please don't be afraid to Email Matt or Joe - Or hop onto the Facebook Group, and voice your interest.
Join Them On Facebook: Atheists Helping The Homeless
At the moment, i am currently setting up a local group here in Australia, and i offer to anyone else out there interested in helping out a cause such as this please don't be afraid to Email Matt or Joe - Or hop onto the Facebook Group, and voice your interest.
Here Is What It Is All About
Atheists Helping the Homeless are helping for the sake of helping. Atheists have always been doing so.
It isn't always the same type of giving when other groups helping the homeless preach a religious message while "helping." When we are in the field giving out free toiletries and other needy items, the homeless people tell us their impression of the Christian groups who give out food.
"We get tired of all the Jesus," they say.
This is not the impression we want to leave.
We've received donations of money and items to give away from all over the world, 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:
- To help some folks in need,
- To show by example that the idea that Atheists don't care and don't help people in need, is very very false, and
- To have fun.
We've already succeeded with all three of those goals with the 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.
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 - $0.97 for a travel size
- Socks - Around $6-9. for a package of 6 tube socks
- Soap - 7 bars wrapped individually for around $7.
- toilet paper - individually wrapped rolls, the least expensive we can find.
- shampoo - $0.97 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 $1 per bottle.
- bottled water - about $0.30 a bottle.
- winter gloves - around $2 per pair
- 1 gallon zip lock baggies to put it all in.
- granola bars - Individually wrapped, any flavor.
NB: Atheists Helping the Homeless is NOT tax-exempt, donations to AHH are NOT tax-deductible.
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