Creating Welcome Kits for New Neighbors

 

If you have ever had a new family move in near your home, you have had an opportunity to give them a welcome kit or welcome basket of some type. Do not miss the opportunity to welcome a new neighbor!

I recently heard from a family that moved and was not welcomed by their neighbors. So they created plates of cookies and contract sheets and went and introduced themselves to their new neighbors. I love their heart and example, but I would hope that example of neighbor apathy would rarely happen.

Even when you put together a welcome packet or gift basket for a new neighbor, there is still the question of what to include. Let me suggest some low-cost ideas that say, “I am glad to have you as a new neighbor.”:

1. A dessert from your favorite bakery

If you live in the area, you likely know where the best items can be found. Use this basket to showcase a wonderful local treat and include a menu from the business. 

2. A local trail map 

No matter where you live, hiking trails are likely within a short drive. Introduce the new neighbors to the nearby nature by giving them a trail map or guidebook. Be sure to mark a favorite short hike to give them an idea of where to start.

3. A copy of the local newspaper

If your community is lucky enough to have a newspaper, this is a great way to help your new neighbors get to know their new home. Hometown newspapers are also a great way to find services they might need.

4. A perennial that thrives in your garden

If a plant is growing in your yard, there’s an awfully good chance it will grow in the neighbors’ yard, too. A perennial is nice, because it’ll bloom for years to come, reminding them of their neighbors kind welcome when they first moved in. When you make the gift, mention why you like this plant for your locale, and offer any tips for getting it established. 

5. Local delicacies

Give your new neighbors a taste of something they can only get in your town/county. Maybe it is local honey or local fruit. The idea is to make it local so they have a chance to connect with their new home.

6. Take-out menus 

Even the most avid cook is likely to order dinner in those hectic first weeks. Spare them the experience of mediocre food from the first place that comes up first on Google by sharing menus from your favorite spots. If you’re feeling generous, include a gift certificate to one or two!

7. A membership to a local institution

Give the gift of a local experience by gifting them a membership or a pass to your local historical society, museum, or public garden. If there’s more than one, pick one they’re less likely to discover independently.

8. Flowers from your garden

Flowers are always a welcome gift, but especially when they are homegrown. Those blossoms will also provide a spot of beauty in the new house. Be sure to put them in a vessel they don’t need to return.

9. Something to pop in the oven

If you love to cook, a one-pan meal, like a lasagna or a tray of enchiladas, will give your new neighbors a welcome break from takeaway or cooking. 

10. Something truly practical

New neighbors will love these ideas even though they’re not traditional gifts. For example, pack up a plastic shower curtain, bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and a bar of soap for the ultimate first-night-in-a-new-home gift. Another practical gift: a pack of toilet paper and rolls of paper towels. 

11. A personal directory.

Creating a personal directory for the welcome basket can also be helpful to your family!  Start with a list of useful phone numbers for local pharmacies, dry cleaners, coffee shops, and stores. Also, list your suggestions for various local restaurants. Consider supplying an address book, so they can organize the information. Don’t forget to list your own phone number. If your neighborhood has a directory put together with contact information for neighbors, include that as well.

12. A home improvement bucket.

If you are looking for a gift everyone can appreciate, try filling a bucket with goodies new homeowners usually need. I would include a hammer, screwdriver, nails, screws, extension cords, or a power strip.

13. Home meal kit.

A home-cooked meal set. Nothing beats a home-cooked treat. You can make fresh sweets like cookies, brownies or a pie. If you prefer to buy food items, consider trail mix, popcorn, soft drinks, etc. You can also create a fruit basket for smoothies or provide all the ingredients for a foolproof meal like spaghetti or lasagna.

14. A personal note.

No matter what you provide, do not forget to include a personal handwritten note. Maybe even do a water-colored page that you turn into a card. Investing time in something like this says that you care.

15. Welcome kits

You will also find all types of "welcome to the neighborhood" gifts on Amazon and other stores. I would save those items for future opportunities, like when you invite them over for dinner, or as a gift on National Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28) or during Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4). You actually can purchase welcome kits online too, if you have an unlimited budget. But I think local products with a local touch are much more meaningful.

16. Include some fun

There are also some fun resources from organizations like the Hopeful Neighborhood Project, which has a neighbor bingo page to give people as a way to explore their new neighborhood. The Hopeful Neighborhood Project is also preparing to sell Welcome kits (for $20) that will include a mug, tea and cocoa, a neighbor journal, an enamel pin, and a note card that has space for listing your favorite “gifts” in the neighborhood. 

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Does this article make you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? Five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com.

Contact the blog author, David L. Burton at dburton541@yahoo.com.