Traditional faith based and occasionally supernaturally oriented communities may provide charitable services which can include soup kitchens, food drives, and aid for the unfortunate. Many communities are also involved in local and global environmental activism. Such activities are not only valuable to the recipients but also have healthful effects on the givers. Volunteering positively correlates with lower stress levels, less depression, greater self-confidence, better heart health, lower blood pressure, and lower mortality rates.
Naturalistic Humanist communities should participate in providing needed community services. Providing services to recipients also presents an opportunity to offer Naturalistic Support where it might be needed the most. Because of the stigma attached to being a person in need many blame themselves for their situation. Helping someone recognize that, given their preceding circumstances, whatever they have or have not done was the only possible way they could have behaved, can help free them from feelings that are detrimental and debilitating. Naturalistic Support can help those facing intense challenges reconnect with their strength and move forward.
Acts of philanthropy, and charitable services serve millions who are in need. Ideally, however, access to those services should be guaranteed to all as part of a responsible social safety net. Naturalistic Humanists should make significant efforts to get local, state, and federal government to strengthen our weak social safety net, distribute resources more equitably, build a fairer and more effective criminal justice system, lead the way in environmental activism, and promote a global agenda of peace.