Atheists and secular humanists in large numbers are reaching into their pockets to help the victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. Many of their donations are going to religious charities either because they already have boots on the ground where the help is needed or simply because they don't have knowledge of any secular charities. Such organizations do exist though and information about them is getting easier to find.
Some, like Doctors Without Borders are already well-known. Their 3 medical facilities in Haiti were all destroyed by the earthquake but their people are helping the injured anyway. Other organizations like SHARE, the Skeptics and Humanist Aid and Relief Effort, and FBB, Foundation Beyond Belief, both of which are organized as humanist or freethinker charities, are funneling donations to secular groups like Doctors Without Borders. The American Humanist Association has also established a Haitian relief fund that is even now working with NGO's in the Dominican Republic to send supply convoys into the earthquake-devasted areasOther charities whose focus is secular include International Relief Teams, the American Red Cross, AmeriCares and Partners in Health.
The Foundation Beyond Belief also recommends use of the Charity Navigator site to determine which religiously-based organizations working in Haiti are more committed to saving lives than souls. Some, like the United Methodist Committee on Relief, explicitly renounce proselytizing in their relief work:
"UMCOR honors cultural differences. We deliver aid to people without regard to race, religion, politics, or gender....UMCOR avoids tying the promise of its relief and development activity to any religious or political viewpoint." (from their website. Referenced by D. McGowan)
Others, like Food for the Poor, Hope for Haiti Children's Center, Feed My Starving Children, and Love A Child, Inc., spend at least part of their time and money on spreading their religious beliefs. Here's an example from the Samaritan's Purse website (reference and bold print by D. McGowan):
"We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ."
Here in Los Angeles, local atheists and humanists have been donating mostly as individuals but some groups will be sending money as organizations as well. Interviewed by phone this morning, Bobbie Kirkhart, president of L.A. based Atheists United, said the group will be sending aid to Haiti, probably through SHARE.
Photo Credit:
1) Freight inside the hold of an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane loaded with 40 tons of humanitarian aid the NGO is chartering to Haiti along with French NGO Doctors Without Borders, before take off at the Merignac airport, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Friday Jan. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
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