The University of Saskatchewan Freethought Alliance recently raised over $1,000 for Doctors Without Borders by selling hugs:
I would’ve gotten the one with the awkward silence bonus.
Brandon Gerbig, a member of the group, explains the inception of the idea at The Course of Reason blog:
The idea started out as a campaign to put a “friendly face” on the atheists in our university group by handing out free hugs. We would go out, set up a booth, and hug whoever would dare to hug us heathens. Then a member of our group had a revelation, “Hug an atheist for charity”. Why not give out the hugs, and raise money for charity at the same time?
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The reception to the event was overall very positive, with several outspoken religious people coming forward to hug and donate to the heathen atheist cause. There were, of course, a few dirty looks and hushed comments, but I doubt you could hold any kind of event without a few of those.
Brilliant idea and one worth replicating.
Because we can’t let Canada have all the good ideas.