Volunteer Service
For the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry (SHL), volunteerism is more than just doing good deeds—it’s a core value that puts our principles into action. By serving others, we strengthen our communities, foster connection, and live out our commitment to empathy, reason, and shared responsibility. Service benefits not only those we help, but also those who serve, offering new skills, meaningful experiences, connection to others, and personal growth. Our volunteers work to create a welcoming, vibrant community for non-religious people in the Lowcountry and to serve the needs of our members. But our commitment to service doesn’t stop there. Volunteerism is a core secular value, and we actively create opportunities for SHL members to make a positive impact in the broader community as well.
Last updated 2026-09-30
Regular Service Opportunities:
Service to SHL Community
SHL is an all-volunteer, member-supported organization with no paid staff. Everything we do — from planning events and building community to organizing outreach and advocacy — happens because members step up to help. We’re always looking for passionate people to plan and carry out activities, as well as those with professional skills such as accounting, web design, marketing, graphic design, social media, photography, videography, and communications. Whether you want to pitch in at an event or put your expertise to work behind the scenes, your time and talents can make a real difference in building and strengthening our community. If you’re ready to get involved, we’d love to hear from you!
Food Distribution with Park Circle Cares
On the 3rd Saturday of the month, SHL volunteers with Park Circle Cares, a non-faith based, non-profit organization created in 2016 to assist people in the lowcountry who struggle with food insecurity. Park Circle Cares is a member agency with the Lowcountry Food Bank, and distributes 120-150 thousand pounds of food each year. What makes them unique among the many organizations working on the widespread problem of food insecurity in our community is that they only distribute healthy and nutritious foods, 75% of which is produce. Healthy dry goods and proteins make up the remainder. Sign up for the next food distribution on our Meetup page.
Adopt-A-Highway
Once a quarter, on a Sunday morning while many are in church, we put our values into action by serving the community through our Adopt-a-Highway program. Armed with safety vests, trash bags, and a commitment to a cleaner environment, we spend the morning picking up litter and making our shared spaces better for everyone. It’s a simple, visible way to show that humanists care — and that good works don’t require a pew. Sign up for our Volunteer Network mailing list or for text notifications to be notified when the next service is announced.
Lowcountry Food Bank
SHL is volunteering to work at the Lowcountry Food Bank, located at 2864 Azalea Dr in Charleston, on the second Tuesday of the month from 1 – 3 PM. Volunteers work in the warehouse, helping to inspect food donations, sort fresh produce, and pack food, ensuring that it is ready to be distributed throughout the community. Sign up for our Volunteer Network mailing list or for text notifications to be notified when the next service is announced.
Lowcountry Period Pixies Packing Parties
Whenever possible SHL volunteers to help the Lowcountry Period Pixies assemble packs of menstrual hygiene supplies for local students and community members. 1 in 4 women and girls can’t afford period products, which can’t be purchased with SNAP or WIC benefits and are rarely donated to food banks. Many miss school or work because of it. These packs provide dignity — and prevent the health risks that come with using unsafe alternatives. Packing parties are held throughout the year and are a fun, social way to make a direct impact. Sign up for our Volunteer Network mailing list or for text notifications to be notified when the next service is announced.
Other Service Opportunities:
SNAP Back At Hunger Program Pivots to Feed Hungry Kids
Over five million Americans have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since the Trump Administration made massive cuts to the program last year–about two million of those are children. In fact, 62% of all SNAP recipients are families...
Past Volunteer Service:
Sept 2026 Adopt-A-Highway
Nine SHL volunteers spent Sunday morning, September 27, 2026 cleaning up our adopted stretch of highway, collecting more than 18 bags of trash along the way. It was a beautiful morning to be outside, with roadside wildflowers and pea pods in bloom and butterflies...
SHL Leads the Walk to Fight Hunger in Fundraising
The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry (SHL) raised $1,651.30 for the Lowcountry Food Bank’s 6th annual Walk to Fight Hunger and was recognized as the event’s top fundraising team.* Helping others is fundamental to our humanist values. We believe in our...
Sept ’26 Feminist Magic Market
SHL was back at the Feminist Magic Market in Park Circle on Saturday, September 26, 2026 for another afternoon of meeting people, talking about humanism, and letting our neighbors know there is a vibrant secular community for them here in the Lowcountry. It was an...
September 2026 Park Circle Cares
SHL volunteers were back at Park Circle Cares on September 19, 2026 for our monthly service activity, joining volunteers from across the community to distribute fresh produce, groceries, and other necessities to local families. The food truck from the Lowcountry...
Charleston Meal Pack for 9/11 Day 2026
SHL volunteers joined hundreds of community members at the Charleston Gaillard Center for Charleston’s first 9/11 Day of Service meal-packing event. Together, volunteers packed an incredible 138,000 meals for the Lowcountry Food Bank, turning a day of remembrance into...
Lowcountry Food Bank (September 2026)
Eleven humanists worked with other community volunteers at our monthly shift at the Lowcountry Food Bank on September 8, 2026. Most of us boxed up food items to be distributed to senior citizens. We packed 164 boxes full of cereal, shelf-stable milk, canned fruits...
SHL tabled at film screening hosted by PFLAG and College of Charleston Special Collections
SHL tabled at an event hosted by PFLAG Charleston and the College of Charleston Special Collections on Saturday, August 29, 2026. They screened a short documentary film, Dawn: A Charleston Legend, about Dawn Langley Simmons, one of Charleston’s pioneering transgender...
August 2026 Park Circle Cares
Volunteers from SHL joined other community members for Park Circle Cares’ monthly food distribution on August 15, helping provide food to more than 130 local families. We also continued our partnership with Lowcountry Period Pixies, distributing 400 packs of period...
Lowcountry Food Bank (August 2026)
A dozen humanists worked with other community volunteers at our monthly shift at the Lowcountry Food Bank on August 11, 2026. Some of us bagged sweet potatoes, while others worked the cardboard compactor, but most of us packed more than 900 backpack buddies--healthy...
LC Period Pixies Packing Party (August 2026)
Several SHL volunteers joined with dozens of other community volunteers for the Lowcountry Period Pixies Packing Party on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the Wando Mt Pleasant Library. We put together hundreds of Period Packs for distribution in the community. We ran out...
Period Packing Party with Charleston Black Pride, PFLAG Charleston and All Saints Lutheran Church
Four Secular Humanists answered the call from our friends at PFLAG Charleston and Charleston Black Pride for a Period Packing Party on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The event was held at All Saints Luthern Church, and Pastor Ginger and several members of their congregation...
July 2026 Park Circle Cares
At least 9 SHL members joined many other volunteers to serve the community at the monthly Park Circle Cares food distribution on July 18, 2026. Join us on the 3rd Saturday of every month to fight food insecurity.
Lowcountry Food Bank (July 2026)
Nine humanists joined other community volunteers at the Lowcountry Food Bank for our monthly shift on July 14, 2026. We sorted donations and helped bag oats.
SHL Volunteers Support Two Great Community Events in One Day
Saturday, June 27, 2026 was a busy day for SHL volunteers, and we couldn't be prouder of the way our members showed up for the community. While one team was representing SHL at the Feminist Magic Pride Market, another group joined other community volunteers at the...
June 2026 Park Circle Cares
On June 20, 2026 nine volunteers from the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry joined community partners today for the monthly Park Circle Cares food distribution, helping provide food and other essential resources to local families. SHL helped connect Park Circle...
Period Pixies Packing Party Sat Jun 27
Lowcountry Period Pixies are assembling period packs for our community. at the Bees Ferry Library Saturday June 27th from 12:30 to 3:30 pm. Please join them and bring a donation of individually wrapped pads, tampons, liners or wipes, This isn't an SHL event, but we...
Lowcountry Food Bank (June 2026)
We're on the wall of fame! At least one of us is. In recognition of our consistent service, the Lowcountry Food Bank added SHL to the wall of fame. A dozen of us came to our monthly shift on June 9, 2026. Diane and Lee got to do a new job: compacting cardboard...
Queer Adult Prom was totally tubular!
Happy Pride month, y’all! Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry brought our photobooth to the most radical totally 80’s Queer Adult Prom last night.
Park Circle Cares (May 2026)
Nine secular humanists joined other regular and new volunteers from the community to distribute food to families with our friends from Park Circle Cares on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Join us on the third Saturday of every month to fight food insecurity.
Lowcountry Food Bank (May 2026)
Twelve secular humanists worked along side volunteers from Boeing and the community to bag sweet potatoes at our monthly volunteer shift at the Lowcountry Food Bank on May 12, 2026. Volunteer with us at the food bank at 1 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
American Empathy Project: See Photos from Our Period Pixies Packing Party
Humanist Volunteers Pack Over 1,200 Period Packs for the American Empathy Project Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry (SHL) demonstrated the power of humanist values through a successful volunteer action on Saturday, May 2, 2026 as part of the American Empathy...
April 2026 Adopt-A-Highway
On Sunday morning, April 26, 2026, nine SHL volunteers gave back to the community by cleaning litter from a local roadside.
Lowcountry Food Bank (April 2026)
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 eight humanists worked with volunteers from Pure Insurance to pack over 900 "backpack buddies"--bags of snacks that are given to school children that may not have food at home. We volunteer at the food bank on the second Tuesday of every...
March 2026 Adopt-A-Highway
Nine secular humanists spent Sunday morning, on March 22, 2026 picking up trash from the side of the road, in service to our community.