Honored Acts of Neighboring During Missouri Good Neighbor Week

 

In the early years of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, we had a category of prizes for the "best acts of neighboring" for the week. 

But I realized that sometimes what works in one community or neighborhood does not work in another. Plus, some people engaged in neighboring were reluctant to report on their acts of neighboring if they thought they would win a prize for their effort. They were not doing it to win a prize.

So, for those two reasons, I changed this category for 2024 and going forward. I no longer have a committee that looks at what is reported and selects "the winners." 

Instead, I collect all of the reported acts of neighboring from our website, randomly sort all submissions, and draw for prizes. We also give people the option to opt out of the drawing.

This year, we were able to honor eight submissions with a $50 check. I hope we can grow this category with other sponsors in order to offer more prizes.

But when I look at people or groups that were chosen based on a random drawing, I am impressed by the variety and by what was done this year!

This years winners in the Missouri Good Neighbor Week Acts of Neighboring drawing are as follows:

Naquittia Noah, Ferguson, MO

The Ferguson Forestwood Neighborhood Association meets every 1st Tuesday of each month. Donald Stevens chairs the meeting and allows residents voices to be heard by their Ferguson elected officials and Ferguson staff who attend. During Missouri Good Neighbor Week, the Forestwood Neighborhood Association gave a $500 to Ferguson Police Officer Travis Brown who remains hospitalized due to injuries suffered while on duty.  Other acts of neighboring have been giving hats and gloves to school aged youth.

Dana Reynolds, Lees Summit

I bought a small loaf of pumpkin bread for everyone in my cul-de-sac and wrote a handwritten note, thanking them for being a great neighbor, and left them on their front porches.

Melissa Harmer, Raymore, Mo

I brought snacks to the City of Raymore's Public Works Maintenance and Parks Maintenance staff members. I actually do this once a month to show my appreciation for a lot of the "unseen" work they do every day to keep the community safe and beautiful.

Darla Noble, Rogersville, Mo

On the HOA front, I helped assembly and distribute gifts of goodies/treats to every household in our HOA (Patriot Place) for Good Neighbor Day. We are currently organizing our 2nd annual Fall Fellowship of the HOA members. The HOA will host this event and provide the main course, but neighbors will bring sides and games. 

Wayne Thompson, Floursih CDC, Springfield MO

Flourish CDC did a project in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood for Good Neighbor Day. Flourish went door to door and passed out Good Neighbor Day goodie bags (photo at the top). We reached about 125 doors and engaged in some fun conversations with our neighbors in the community.

Amy Shelburn-Zarins, Springfield MO

A nearby rental house had a pile of sticks at the base of a tree in the front yard that had been there for years. I knocked on the door, introduced myself, and requested permission to haul the pile to the Yardwaste recycling center for them. I was taking my own pile with room available in the trailer. My neighbor's yard looked so much more open and inviting with the big pile of sticks gone! The occupants then started to mow the grass regularly and have no longer received complaints to the City for tall grass. Small acts of kindness to inspire positive changes.

Suzanne E Chisum, St. Louis MO

The 4100 Block of Potomac hosted a block party for National Night Out in St. Louis on October 1. We invited all on our block with flyers given to each resident and shared with those neighboring blocks. We posted on social media and had yard signs and flyers. We had burgers and chips and soda, and guests provided sides of salads and desserts. We met many new neighbors! Some had recently moved to our block and were interested in getting to know the neighbors better. Our Alderman dropped by also.