Spartanburg Soup Kitchen turns away atheist volunteers

[rug]

By Dustin Wyatt
Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 4:45 p.m.

A group of Upstate atheists plans to hand out care packages downtown this weekend after the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen wouldn't let them volunteer.

On Saturday, about 10 people are expected to gather across from the soup kitchen and hand out care packages to the homeless. The 300 packages contain socks, gloves, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, soap, rain ponchos, snacks, shaving razors, antiseptic wipes, deodorants, tissues and gum.

"I hope we can provide a package for everyone who needs one," said Eve Brannon, president of Upstate Atheists, a group started in 2011 that includes about 200 members. "Whatever we have left, we will donate to a homeless shelter in the Upstate."

Brannon, 25, said they decided to hand out care packages to the homeless after being told they could not volunteer at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen.

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20131023/ARTICLES/131029846/1083/ARTICLES?p=1&tc=pg

[dimbear]

1. From the article's head weasel at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen:

"Lou Landrum, executive director of the Soup Kitchen, told the Herald-Journal she would resign from her job before she let atheists volunteer and be a "disservice to this community."

"This is a ministry to serve God" she said. "We stand on the principles of God. Do they (atheists) think that our guests are so ignorant that they don't know what an atheist is? Why are they targeting us? They don't give any money. I wouldn't want their money.""
*************
dimbear: that kind of sweet talk gives me a warm glow.

[madrchsod]

2. oh my .. i think jesus would`t approve of this women`s attitude.

[No Vested Interest]

7. I don't think Pope Francis would approve either.

It could be that both groups are as much about 'tooting their horns' re their beliefs as they are serving the needy.

[Goblinmonger]

10. So what in that article

Led you to believe the atheists were doing that? Seems odd you would go out of your way to call out the atheists here.

[No Vested Interest]

12. Sorry, sir. I don't understand what is in the comment

that led you to interpret it as calling out atheists.

[Goblinmonger]

13. Well, the whole body of the message

It could be that both groups are as much about 'tooting their horns' re their beliefs as they are serving the needy.

emphasis mine

Perhaps I am confused, but both groups would include the Christians that denied the atheists and the atheists. Why would you choose to include "both groups" in you condemnation and not just the ones acting like dicks?

[TygrBright]

15. Stay classy, representative of Jesus. JUST what he'd do! (not) n/t

[Mojo Electro]

3. What would Jesus do?

Definitely not let those heathens serve food!!



I'm glad they have decided to go ahead and do it on their own. Well done.

[longship]

4. Hitchens was right. "Religion poisons everything."

Even the kindness of charity.

In spite of assurances that they merely wanted to help out, this was the response to the atheist organization:

Lou Landrum, executive director of the Soup Kitchen, told the Herald-Journal she would resign from her job before she let atheists volunteer and be a "disservice to this community."

"This is a ministry to serve God" she said. "We stand on the principles of God. Do they (atheists) think that our guests are so ignorant that they don't know what an atheist is? Why are they targeting us? They don't give any money. I wouldn't want their money."

Well, Ms. Landrum, now those filthy atheists will be helping out across the street from your Christian soup kitchen, in plain sight, instead of invisibly behind your doors. I hope they hand out literature too to showcase your intolerance and narrow-mindedness.

Screw you, Lou Landrum. What would Jesus have done, you utter buffoon?

[hrmjustin]

5. My Church always gets people of other and no faith to help with our outreach programs.

[xfundy]

6. The destruction of Christianity in the US is almost complete.

At least, according to what I was taught as a child; this represents 'the antichrist', as "even the very elect will be deceived," and antichrist will do the opposite of what Jesus taught. Forget the bullshit about 'end times' according to LaHaye, who just wanted to make $$$$ off his lunatic scary stories.

Doesn't make me believe either way, I think they just used the writings on 'antichrist' as a blueprint, just as they used '1984' as a roadmap, and Hitler's playbook as a replacement for Carnegie's "How To Win Friends And Influence People."

[No Vested Interest]

8. The care packages remind me of the little boxes prepared by students

in their schools to send overseas during, and maybe after for a while, WWII.

The boxes were small white oblong boxes with the Red Cross label on them, smaller than a shoe box. They were actually called CARE - in caps- for an agency I don't recall. - That's where the current generic name 'care package' came from.
Some of the same items listed above were included - comb, toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, small toys, etc.

Some things never change.

[Jim Lane]

9. CARE = Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere

Your history is a bit off -- the organization was first founded in November 1945, as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe. The current expansion of the acronym was adopted in 1953 to reflect its broader mission.

I also remember those white boxes, although CARE Packages were phased out in the 1960s.

[No Vested Interest]

11. Thank you, Jim. It's my memory

that's a little bit off. Glad your is better than mine.
By the 1960's, the care packages I saw were inside the diapers I was changing.

[Jim Lane]

16. My memory trick, revealed here for your use!

I didn't correct you based on my supposedly better memory. Instead I used the secret formula: WIYF.

It stands for "Wikipedia Is Your Friend" and it means that most of my post came from the Wikipedia articles, not my memory.

[No Vested Interest]

17. Well, of course, you're correct, and often I do go to Wikipedia or Google

the subject.
Other times, I'm either in a hurry or consider it a 'throw-away' comment, assuming most people don't know or care about it so much.
Again, I appreciate your clearing up my vagueness or inaccuracies. I learn so much on DU from the precision and greater knowledge of so many here, which is what keeps me coming back. I say that in all sincerity. No snark.

[ck4829]

14. And then they will turn around and say atheists don't volunteer because they aren't religious...

[goldent]

18. Maybe it worked out for the best

Competing aid agencies can't be all bad.

[struggle4progress]

19. Landrum's acting the jerk IMO. But I think I will add that over the years I have managed

to volunteer for several organizations, that had some religious affiliation and that offered some service to low-income or destitute populations, without ever discussing my own religious views with anybody and without ever being asked what my views or affiliations might be

And I think I will also add that some people really are first-rate jerks about this sort of thing: I once met a very nice older couple who finally quit volunteering regularly for a charity because "It's supposed to be a Christian organization, so they shouldn't let Jews volunteer." Um, yeah, well ...