Missouri Good Neighbor Week Ambassadors were asked to do more than promote an annual celebration in 2026. They were encouraged to model good neighboring, invite others to participate and help document what happens when Missourians intentionally invest in the people and places around them. A total of 94 Missourians registered to be an Ambassador in 2026. Three Ambassadors illustrate the range of ways people put neighboring into practice: Emma Alexander, Sabra Kovar and Carla L. Hudson . Emma Alexander: Making neighboring a youth lesson Emma Alexander led the Ambassador network with eight substantive reports, many involving young people through 4-H and FFA. One of the largest projects brought youth and adults together to pack 11,172 meals for local food pantries and food-security projects. Alexander reported participation involving groups and communities including Seymour FFA, Niangua FFA, Fordland FFA and the Greene County 4-H Teen Council. Her reports also included project...

A citywide effort in Independence that generated more than 650 documented direct engagements, removed at least 920 cubic yards of material and attracted more than $20,500 in community support is a leading example of how University of Missouri Extension put neighboring into action during Missouri Good Neighbor Week. The Love Where You Live: IndeCleanup effort brought together the City of Independence, MU Extension, Community Services League, Extension Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, neighborhood organizations, businesses, volunteers and residents for eight days of community improvement activities. The Independence effort stands out among 45 projects undertaken by MU Extension councils, 4-H clubs and partners across Missouri during the 2026 celebration. Three other projects also rose to the top: Butler County Extension Council members personally delivering cards and visiting veterans at a VA nursing home; Andrew County Extension Council members creating birthday cake kits...

  At the beginning of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, I posed a simple question:  What can $25 start? Thanks to a $500 grant from Drop Dead Generous and a matching donor, we had $1,000 to find out. The money purchased forty $25 gift cards from local businesses. During Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 4, the cards were placed in unexpected locations around Republic: on gas pumps, library tables, in parks, stores, community spaces and other places people encounter during an ordinary day. Each was tucked inside an envelope carrying a simple message:  “This is for you, neighbor.”  The envelope made it clear that there was no catch and that a $25 gift card was enclosed. But giving away $1,000 was never really the experiment. The question was what happened after someone found an envelope . Recipients were invited to tell us where they found their gift, what $25 meant to them that day, how the unexpected kindness made them feel and, most importantly, whether receivi...

  This blog post will be updated regularly with news and links about Missouri Good Neighbor Week 2026 in a number of categories that we track and celebrate. Access our new website that contains a live map and accounting of reported acts of neighboring. Be sure to see the leaderboard to discover which counties and cities have the most activity in Missouri. Media coverage of Missouri Good Neighbor Week has been outstanding this year. We know of the following types of media support: Social media reach: 1.3 million Missouri Print and TV media reached an estimated 850,000 Missourians Individuals serving locally as Ambassadors: 94 6 businesses recognized as "Most Neighborly Business" for 2026 17 individuals recognized as "Missouri's Most Engaged Neighbors" for 2026 3 neighborhoods recognized as "Missouri's Most Neighborly Neighborhoods." 10 cities earned recognition as Missouri's Most Neighborly Cities." 10 counties earned status as top 10 most...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Seventeen Missourians whose everyday actions build relationships, create belonging and encourage neighbors to care for one another have been selected as Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2026. The honorees were selected from 78 nominations submitted as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, celebrated annually Sept. 28-Oct. 4. The 2026 Missouri Most Engaged Neighbor honorees are: ●         Paul and Ann Morrison — Fremont Hills  ●         Roy Howard — Blue Springs ●         Meg and Brett Holmes — St. Louis ●         Shawna Galbreath — Fulton ●         Les Cassil — Columbia ●         Sharon Shortino — Lee’s Summit ●         Becky Wiginton — Marble Hill ●         Gretch...