We heard that the annual National Day of Prayer has also spurred atheists to action—and they're using the occasion to do good works in their community.

The Atheist Community of Polk County, Florida, for instance,11 is organizing a number of community service events and an awareness campaign to suggest that "fellowship" doesn't require "faith".

It's all part of an annual effort to celebrate a national Secular Week of Action instead of observing the National Day of Prayer, which was set aside in U.S. federal law for people of faith to pray for the nation on the first Thursday in May.

In place of observing a day of thoughts and prayers, secular groups nationwide organize service projects. This year's emphasis is on a compassionate response to hunger and homelessness, which were exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nonprofit which covers the metro areas of Lakeland and Winter Haven, runs several ongoing programs to address social issues. They even partnered with a church in a unique food pantry coalition as a direct response to the COVID-19.

Joining the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland, the project, called It Takes a Village, uses volunteers to deliver food pantry supplies directly to the homes of recipients who may be quarantined or unable to visit the pantry.

These local atheists also run a chapter of Street Warriors to provide hot meals to people experiencing homelessness, and a Backpack Program that supplies weekend groceries for elementary students.

In addition to providing much-needed food to folks throughout the County, the Secular Week of Action includes a litter clean-up of the group's adopted roadway in Haines City on Sunday May 2 at 8:45am.

Their Street Warriors service project will also be meeting on Sunday (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM) in Winter Haven to pack up food, then hit the streets, to feed people experiencing homelessness.

Under the slogans ‘Good without God', ‘Community without Church', and ‘Fellowship without Faith,' Polk County Atheists Co-founder Sarah Ray says that one of the most important thing her group provides is a sense of community.

"We want to let other nonbelievers know that there is a secular community here they can turn to. And we want to challenge the misconceptions and stereotypes about atheists. We are good people, we're your neighbors, co-workers, and friends."

They will also be providing a secular invocation at the Polk County Board of County Commissioners Meeting two days before the National Day of Prayer. "Providing secular invocations gives us an opportunity to remind elected officials at all levels that nonbelievers exist in their constituency."

Join their weekly ongoing charitable events, with details found on Meetup.com—or find an event this week in your area of the U.S. here.

SAY AMEN! – And Share the Secular Good News on Social Media…