Texas Atheist Group Finds Heartwarming Way to Help the Homeless
By Megan H, November 19, 2019

In a country with far too many unquestioning supporters of Donald Trump, and evangelical Christians who celebrate the wealthy (like say, Joel Osteen and Kanye West), and those who hate atheists only slightly less than they do LGBTQ people, it’s nice to see communities band together to help those who can’t always help themselves.

Especially when it’s an atheist community working to uplift homeless people.

That’s what the Atheist Community of Lubbock did on Sunday.

Rather than tithing to some local church that may or may not help struggling people, group members held the organization’s very first “No Strings Attached” Homeless Outreach Event, providing people who are down on their luck with items they all need most: food, clothes, personal hygiene items, blankets, sleeping bags, and — perhaps most important — human kindness. The event turned out to be a rousing success, providing 120 people (“40% of the local homeless population,” they say) with the things they need to make their lives a little easier.

As someone who has lived homeless in Texas, I can tell you how brutal the winters can be in this state. My husband and I lived through flash floods with hail the size of golfballs. We’ve lived homeless in seven different states, and have persevered through ice storms, snow, pneumonia, crushing heat, and police. So kudos to these kind-hearted atheists for showing the community that you don’t have to be religious to be caring.

Their actions brought together local businesses, scores of volunteers, and enough donations (about $1,200) to make this work. They also advertised the event via Facebook, a billboard, and flyers.

In the days that followed we were all stunned at the incredible response from [Lubbock] citizens. Many people had heard about our event and reached out to help. We had donations pouring in, and volunteers signing up by the boatload. We were excited to see so many people supporting us, but we still didn’t know if we would have enough people at the event to serve.

Even cold and wind couldn’t keep people away from Mose Hood park, where it was held. The park is a haven for many homeless people.