Charitable dilemma

[Cartoonist]

My boss is giving all of us a turkey this week. I want to give mine to a local food bank, but they're all run by churches. As an atheist, this bothers me.

I will eventually give it to one of them, but I wish I had another option.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Unfortunately, many of the food banks and homeless shelters

are run by religious organizations.

I do volunteer work at a local homeless shelter, and I got involved thanks to some friends who belong to a Presbyterian church. I don't consider myself an atheist, more a non believer, and these Presbyterians are definitely not in your face about the religion, and no one cares that I'm not a member.

Perhaps there is one particular group you feel more kindly about, so you can donate to them.

Or do a bit more research just in case one of the food banks is run by a secular organization.

And doesn't it say a lot that only the churches are running the food banks.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. I wouldn't say *only* the churches are running the food banks, but they seem to be

managing most of them, as well as the free Thanksgiving meals and other food assistance for the poor. Maybe some other organizations, include communities and governments, should try harder to take up that mission instead of leaving it all to the churches and then complaining that nobody's doing it except churches.

[brooklynite]

21. I don't know how to tell you this, but if you're a "non-believer", then you're an "atheist"

ATHEIST (noun): a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods -- Merriam Webster

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Sometimes churches do good work.

Find a food bank run by a church that doesn't evangelize to the recipients of the food or support right-wing causes. The Lutheran (ELCA), Episcopal and some Methodist churches tend to be pretty liberal and generous.

[Freddie]

8. Agree

The food bank in my town was started by my church (ELCA). We do good things and never try to push any kind of message except love your neighbor.

[CaptYossarian]

13. How about the Unitarians?

[wnylib]

18. Very true of the ones that you mentioned and

I would add Presbyterian to that list.

[guillaumeb]

3. Does your town have a food bank?

If not, how about a local restaurant that feeds the poor on the holiday?

Thank you for your generosity. There are so many that need it.

In some states, there are also Township entities that run food banks.

Good luck in finding one.

[Cartoonist]

4. Small town

There are other food banks in nearby towns, but I want to feed my homies.

[guillaumeb]

5. In my area, a few restaurants provide a free meal on Thanksgiving.

Your town hall might know of one.

Good luck in the search.

[Doreen]

6. Just find the least fanatical chuch where they will not try to tie you down and preach.

I do not believe in god and tend to follow Buddhism more but at this time I am in a Methodist choir every other week and go to the Catholic church the other weeks.

My friends from long time ago roped me into singing in the choir. I go to the Catholic church to support my friend for something that is one of the most important things to him because no one supports him in anything.

He does not preach to me and knows I will never be a Christian but is happy that someone feels he is important enough to be respected and supported. One of the other reasons that I am in church was to encourage him to get back into choir because he has an absolutely gorgeous voice that need not be wasted.

The Methodists know I am not a Christian and do not care and include me in with anything I want to do.

The Catholics just do not talk to me much.

[Cartoonist]

7. The Catholic Church is out.

I wouldn't donate my chewed gum to that hellhole.

[Doreen]

15. OMG!!

You have me laughing and I can't quit.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Have you checked with Feeding America?

https://www.feedingamerica.org/ It's an umbrella organization that works with food banks, and you can do a search for local agencies that operate food shelves - that way maybe you can find one that you would be comfortable donating to.

[Cartoonist]

10. Not quite what I'm looking for

I suppose I should have been more clear. I'm looking for a place that will cook the turkey and feed the poor.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. OK, you're looking for a place that offers a free community TGD dinner.

I thought you were trying to locate a food shelf/bank. I tried googling "free Thanksgiving dinner" for my area and found a number of non-church organizations and restaurants which are doing that, so unless you're in a small town you might be able to find something that way.

[Cartoonist]

12. Thank you

Yes, I only googled food bank. Your search was more productive.

We have a winner!
The First Baptist Church put me on hold, but they played a Beatles song instead of Ave Maria.

[wnylib]

19. LOL. Trust me. You will never hear Ave Maria from

a Baptist church. I am not Baptist but have Baptist friends.

[Major Nikon]

16. Look for the most liberal church

Unitarians tend to prosthelytize and discriminate the least. Angelicans and United Church of Christ aren’t too bad.

[Iggo]

17. Churches have their shit together where this kind of thing is concerned.

Notwithstanding the strings that are sometimes attached (I'm looking at you Salvation Army), feeding the poor is one of the best things they do and one of the things they do best.

[wnylib]

20. Strings attached at the Salvation Army? i have

never seen that in our local branch. They have a food bank, second hand store, and run an excellent state certified domestic violence program that provides counseling and legal assistance as well as shelter for women and children.. All with no strings attached.

I always donate to them because they do good work.