COLUMBIA, S.C. — Homelessness in the Midlands has been an on-going battle for years.
One Columbia organization is doing their part to combat it.
Every third Sunday, homeless men and women line up at Finlay Park to receive things they need from the Atheist Alliance Helping the Homeless.
“We provide toiletries, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, basic needs like socks, underwear, some hats, some gloves and scarves…. Just whatever we can get people to donate," leader of the group Steve Weston told News19.
“For me it’s a personal interest for the fact that I was homeless back around 92’ I think it was," Weston said, "And I actually got kicked out of the Oliver Gospel Mission for refusing to pray at breakfast… and it kind of hit me hard, you know, to be ostracized for not believing in a God.”
Weston says over the years he always wanted to help out the homeless but could never find a group of people that weren’t aligned with religion. And then three years ago he helped put this group together.
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“Not necessarily everybody that helps us is atheist and we’re open to others helping. We just refrain from proselytizing even when we’re out here we’re not trying to oppose religion or anything like that," Weston explains, "Part of what we’re doing is just putting the atheist face to charity because there’s so much negativity towards atheists as if we don’t do anything to help and plenty of us love to help we just don’t have a easy time starting those groups.”