In case you hadn’t heard, September 28 is National Good Neighbor Day. First designated as a national holiday in 1978, Good Neighbor Day has been around in various forms for over 30 years. Why celebrate good neighbors? Well, having good neighbors makes life better. If you’ve ever had a terrific neighbor, you know what I mean. And if you’ve ever had a terrible neighbor, you also understand the value of having good ones.
11 Ways to Celebrate Good Neighbor Day
1. Bake something to share
Think of the classic image of stopping by the neighbors with a loaf of freshly baked bread. Maybe brownies from a mix is more your speed. It doesn’t really matter. Just make something yummy and share with a neighbor.
2. Learn their names
Approximately 28% of Americans don’t know any of their neighbor’s names. How sad is that? Not a single name! I am thankful to be one of those 72% of Americans who know their neighbor’s names. If you’re looking for where to start on Good Neighbor Day, learning your neighbor’s names is a good early step. Maybe you can bake those brownies, take them over and introduce yourself.
3. Bring in the trash
This is something my next door neighbor and I do for each other. When we’re out of town on trash day, we help each other out. Not only does this help us, it helps keep our whole neighborhood cleaner.
4. Have on old-fashioned block party
If you live on the kind of street that lends itself to a block party, why not throw one together for this weekend? It doesn’t take much. Food, tables and chairs, and some activities for the kids are all your really need to throw a basic party. Get the other neighbors involved. You might be surprised to find out who has talents to share. Maybe someone has a great game to play. Someone else might be a master barbecue chef. The idea is to bring people together and share. Sounds pretty neighborly, doesn’t it?
5. Invite your neighbors to dinner
Maybe your street doesn’t lend itself to a block party. I live on a straight street where people drive too fast. But I could invite a neighbor to dinner. How about sending a text or email saying, “Friday is Good Neighbor Day. How about getting together at my house for dinner?”
If you’ve only just learned your neighbor’s name, dinner may be to much. You could send out an invite for coffee on a Saturday morning. Or maybe one of the next few ideas will work better for you.
6. Start a club
I know a group of ladies who hold Bunco night in their neighborhood. Another group has a fun book club. Look around at what interests you and see if you can get a few neighbors to join in too. How about a walking group? Maybe a monthly bike ride would be fun. There are as many ideas for gatherings as there are kinds of neighbors.
7. Offer to house sit or pet sit
Over the 18 years I’ve lived in my current neighborhood, my family and I have walked dogs, fed rabbits, taken in the mail, and watered houseplants. Sometimes it’s been a paid gig. Sometimes it’s been purely voluntary. Either way, it’s being a good neighbor.
8. Join NextDoor
Nextdoor is a social network based on neighborhoods. It is a free service. Unlike other social networks that are based on finding friends or followers, Nextdoor is based on geographical location. It links you with neighbors. You can either use the website or download their app. People ask for recommendations, post information about community events, and share neighborhood news. A quick search of my neighborhood page showed me someone looking for a fireplace repairman, a link to a cultural festival, and a neighbor advertising tutoring services.
9. Watch out for one another
Really, just watching out for one another is the best thing we can do as neighbors. It doesn’t take much to keep an eye on your neighbor’s home when they’re out of town. When we plan a trip, I always let my neighbors know. We joke that if they see a moving van pull into the driveway, they should call us immediately.
Once, I was home sick with pneumonia. I happened to see a truck drive up to my neighbor’s mailbox and take something from inside. It turned out to be mail theft. I called and warned her. Later that day, the thieves were caught trying to cash the washed check they stole at a bank several towns away. If I hadn’t called, she wouldn’t have known to report the theft and things could have been much worse. It doesn’t take much to look out for one another.
10. Lemonade stand
This summer, some of the children who live around the corner held a lemonade stand for charity. I knew some of the kids from substitute teaching and some from my son’s school. I gave my own kids some money to buy lemonade. To be honest, it wasn’t that tasty, but it made all the kids feel happier. So it was worth it. Even if it hadn’t been for charity, I would like to think I would support the neighbor kids. That’s what good neighbors are supposed to do.
11. Help with yard work
Maybe you have a neighbor who has health problems or age-related issues. Perhaps their yard is a little overgrown. What if instead of grumbling or complaining about the yard, you offered to help?
We used to have this great fruitless pear tree in our front yard. It was gorgeous in the Fall when it’s leaves would turn bright red. My kids actually loved to rake up the leaves because then they could jump in the piles. One day, some neighborhood boys raked the leaves for us. My kids were so disappointed! No leaves to jump in that year. But my husband thought it was great! So you might want to check with your neighbor before working in their yard.
Love My Neighbors
I have been very fortunate to have some terrific neighbors. I met my neighbor on one side the day we moved in. It was the day she moved in too. Our homes were brand new, we had children the same age, and we have been neighborly ever since. We’ve looked out for each other through parenting our kids and teenagers, mailbox break ins, a flooded creek and subsequent sandbagging, and so much more.
A few years ago, these great neighbors had a change in their daily schedule. Their children were all grown and out of the house and both parents were working long hours. This left their beloved Labrador alone for most of the day. He would cry for hours in their backyard. My middle daughter couldn’t stand it. So when she got home from school in the afternoon, she’d sneak next door and play with him for while. I didn’t find out until she somehow got caught. Instead of being angry with her for trespassing, they offered her a job walking the dog after school. It was her first paying job. It taught her responsibility, how to care for animals, and, most importantly, the value of good neighbors.
The neighbors on the other side I met one day in a emergency situation. My then two-year-old locked me out of the house when I took some trash out. After several unsuccessful break in attempts, I ran next door to borrow the phone. I knocked on the door expecting Len to answer. He and his family had been living there for a year or so. Instead, a nice man named John (complete with Scottish accent) answered the door. He had moved in over the weekend and was now meeting me at my panicked mom worst. Think pajamas, unbrushed hair, and nearly in tears. Thank goodness he didn’t hold it against me. My son is now 13 and John, his wife, Yvonne, and their young son (a recent addition) are still wonderful neighbors.
Want a Good Neighbor? Be a Good Neighbor
It’s simple. If you want to have good neighbors, the first thing you need to do is be a good neighbor. Pick your battles. When a neighbor does something you don’t like, you need to decide if it’s worth arguing over. Some things are better left unsaid. The music is loud a little too late? If it’s once in a while, let it go. If it’s every weekend, maybe it’s time to say something. The lawn next door a little too shaggy, but the neighbors are otherwise awesome?Smile, wave, and be a good neighbor.
Enough said. Happy Good Neighbor Day. Here’s wishing that we can have and be good neighbors. It’ll make the world a better place for everyone.
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