I find it to be very difficult...

I volunteer for the Red Cross which is not religious.

If religion is attached, I don't have any part of it.

I volunteer for causes and things that I believe in, I don't do it for the kudos, praise, or to get attention. If they are doing it to prove what good people or good Christians they are, that's on them. I don't think that changes or diminishes me what-so-ever.

I don't have a problem with other people thinking or believing whatever they are led to believe, as long as they respect my right to think and believe differently. Several of my close friends are very religious, they know and respect my difference of opinion.

I guess that was a really long way to say, "Nah let them do them, and I'll do me."

Religious charities are just a ruse to get you in their confidence to proselytize. I firmly believe that if it were illegal and religious charitable organisations were not permitted to proselytize, they would stop their charitable organisations pronto. Religions do not do things for altruistic motives but do it strictly to "spread the good news". (IMHO)

There is only one homeless shelter here, and it is operated by a Christian organization. If you want to house* the homeless here, you can support them or build your own shelter. Small town problems...

• you could do other stuff, sure

I do not. I am very tolerant of religion, but I draw the line at participation. There are plenty of secular places to serve.

Same though in all honesty. I volunteer for the American Legion, and it feels great just to know your helping something other than your own shitty life XD

A lot of good ideas here. Checked out where Aurora, MO is and maybe try finding a Meetup group in Springfield or Joplin? Maybe create your own? Is Rolla semi-close? Otherwise a day trip to KC? Good luck!

I've been a blood donor for 30 years, even though anymore my iron level is low so I can't give like I used to. But recently I was a volunteer for a senior center and meals on wheels, which I found very fulfilling! I think it's important to give back. I just don't feel I need to do it because I'm trying to make gold stars for a chance to go to a mythical place when I die.

I can understand your point. I think volunteerism is great, and much respect to you for doing it. So I certainly would not let the religious bastards get you down. I volunteer mostly with animals which reinforce my idea that people kind of suck.

I live in sheltered accommodation and I do shopping and washing, ironing and mending for money for charity I let people give me what they want/ or have, to give and when I get £100 in my kitty box, I ask a different person each time which charity they want the money to go to. Many ask for it to go to religious organisations and that is their choice it doesn't impact on my life and what I do or don't do. So long as the money is going to somewhere useful I don't care what is believed in or what isn't by other people - I don't quite know why I am atheist I just grew up this way and to be honest its of little consequence for me to start thinking about something I don't believe in - I am not taking up time in my life to denying fairies or unicorns . As I said just now Religious places put some good in the world to and I wouldn't like to deny that . I most certainly wouldn't give to big business.

For all humanitarian purposes, there is no need to see who is funding or organising it. But it also sheds light to another thing, atheist organisations are not very active or are not very visible in humanitarian activities.

If you believe in a cause that is connected to a religion, your participation as a volunteer is for the benefit of those who receive the help. Many religious organizations do good works of charity and deserver to be respected for the work they do. You don't have to believe in the religion to help.

It all comes down to how comfortable you are in working with them. There are ways to avoid religious subjects.

I volunteer a lot for natural-history or wildlife/conservation oriented organisations but I wouldn't give my time to a group that was overtly religious. Here in the UK those would be quite rare anyway and there are plenty of non-religious organisations to choose from.

I still give a bit of money to some religious charities who I know do good work to help the homeless, but only if they do not push their faith on the people they are helping.

Most of my causes are environmental, so not many religous people, that said, I do a community pantry of a Wednesday run by a local church, Baptist maybe? I have no idea. Nice people, kind and well meaning, but wow, I leave just prior to the opening of the doors, and prior to the staff prayers.

No, that's what turned me off about helping habitat for humanity. Now I just give people houses without the religious mumbo jumbo attached. They still have to work but they keep the houses with no strings attached.

I volunteer with animals. There is a non-profit, independent place that takes in animals and adopts them out at PetSmart. I have also volunteered at local "old folks" homes, many of which are non-religious. I'm sure if you do some searching, there are places you can volunteer that will fit your needs. Hell, Planned Parenthood ALWAYS needs volunteers!!

I'm running into the same issue. There are plenty of environmental/nature things here in Florida that are not overtly religious but not much for helping people.

There is no way I will escape the religious component completely because religious people do happen to volunteer but if they don't make god a part of their mission statement, I can deal.