Contributing to the Community

As a part of our focus on this world and making it a civilized place to live, Humanists involve themselves in community outreach efforts. HCCO has chosen a few select areas in which to concentrate our efforts. These include:

ADOPT an Animal

	HCCO has adopted a bonobo at the Columbus Zoo.  The ADOPT (Animals Depend On People Too) program helps to offset the annual cost of feeding the bonobo at the Columbus Zoo.  The bonobo will remain in the care of professional handlers. Learn more about bonobos at the Columbus Zoo.

Adopt a Highway

	We have also adopted a two-mile stretch of highway in Columbus on I-270 from mile 27.30 (Cleveland Ave) to 29.30 (Westerville Rd).  Each Adopt-A-Highway group like ours saves Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) approximately $800 in litter pickup costs per year. By volunteering to clean a stretch of highway four times a year, we are caring for the environment, community, and helping to keep Ohio beautiful.  While accomplishing those important tasks we are also forming stronger friendships.

Clintonville Beechwold Community Resource Center  

One of our long time projects is to collect food, towels, and other items for the Clintonville Beechwold Community Resource Center. This settlement house serves a neighborhood where some of our long time members are or were residents. Please bring your canned goods and other items to the general meeting and they will be delivered to the center. If you forget to bring canned goods, a donation jar is available that will be given directly to the center.

Festival Information Booths: 

HCCO has had booths at various festivals throughout the years, including the Short North Community Festival (Comfest), the United Nations Festival (UNFest) at Veterans Memorial, Gayfest at Bicentennial Park in downtown Columbus, and Yellow Springs Arts Festival. We have also had booths at the Peace & Unity Festival and other community events. These information booths help advertise the group to the general public and serve to meet one of our group purposes - educating the public about the Humanist philosophy.

The Humanist booth at the Community Festival.

Science Friday on WOSU Radio

HCCO has contributed to the sponsorship of Science Friday on WOSU AM radio for the last few years. A Humanist principle is to support and defend real science in the community.  Below is a plaque we received from them: