Really? National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day is May 16

 

National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day is celebrated every year on May 16. This special day encourages people to be kind and helpful to those living nearby. Whether it's mowing a neighbor's lawn, sharing a meal, or simply saying hello, small acts of kindness can make a big difference in building stronger communities.

This holiday was created in 2009 by Starr Valentino, who believed that good things happen when people come together and help each other. Since then, many towns and cities across the United States have recognized this day, encouraging residents to connect with their neighbors through acts of kindness. Valentino says over 800 communities have signed proclamations for the day.

Another important day is National Good Neighbor Day, observed on September 28. This holiday was created in the early 1970s by Becky Mattson of Lakeside, Montana. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter officially proclaimed it as National Good Neighbor Day to encourage people to build strong relationships with their neighbors.

In Missouri, the celebration extends beyond a single day. Missouri Good Neighbor Week takes place from September 28 to October 4. This week-long event was signed into law in 2022 and encourages Missourians to participate in activities that establish connections with their neighbors. In 2024, over 31,000 acts of neighboring were documented across the state, surpassing the goal of 20,000. 

Holidays like these are important because they remind us to reach out and connect with those around us. Holidays can also help us plan ahead to take action and help us overcome awkward feelings we might have about gathering neighbors. Just say, "I'm doing a driveway party because it is a neighboring holiday." 

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to become isolated and disconnected from our communities. By taking the time to be kind and helpful to our neighbors, we can create safer, more vibrant neighborhoods where everyone feels valued and supported.

So, whether it's May 16, September 28, or any day of the year, let's remember to do something good for our neighbors. A simple act of kindness can go a long way in building a stronger, more connected community.

👉 Official Name: National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
💚 Cause: Show your appreciation for your neighbors and do a good deed
📅 Next Date: May 16, 2025
🐦 Hashtag: #NationalDoSomethingGoodforYourNeighborDay


Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or visit his website at http://engagedneighbor.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best Acts of Neighboring During Missouri Good Neighbor Week Announced and Recognized

Image
  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Second Annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) was a documented success. Organizers had a goal to document 15,000 acts of neighboring. But instead, Missourians reported 19,752 acts of neighboring during the week. The sponsors of Missouri Good Neighbor Week -- University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project – recognize the most engaged neighbors and the best acts of neighboring during the week to encourage acts of neighboring all year. According to David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, 10 different reported acts of neighboring were selected as the best examples in Missouri this year. “Whether you are an award winner or not, we want to encourage Missourians to keep learning the names of their immediate neighbors, finding ways to use their names, and planning fun neighborhood events to develop positive relationships and incre...
Read more

Five Cities Named Most Neighborly in Missouri for 2024

Image
  Photo above: From a block party in Ferguson, Missouri. New to Missouri Good Neighbor Week this year was recognition for the most neighborly cities in the state.  This honor was based on points earned by participating in the week, city campaigns and proclamations, residents making nominations for most engaged neighbor and reporting acts of neighboring, and statewide or local prizes won.  "The goal was to further engage cities with Missouri Good Neighbor Week and we had over 12 pass proclamations and at least 12 that had organized city-wide efforts for Missouri Good Neighbor Week," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "We ended the week with over 31,000 documented acts of neighboring and five cities worthy of the title 'most neighborly city' in Missouri." In 2024, five cities were named the most neighborly cities in Missouri: Houston, Excelsior Springs, Sikeston,...
Read more

Results of 2024 Missouri Good Neighbor Week Exceed 30,000 Acts of Neighboring!

Image
  Several hands have been busy tabulating the final results from the 4th Annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week. While those volunteers and partners are invaluable, people like you are also worthy of thanks.  Individual Missourians who reported their acts of neighboring nominated someone for an award, or organized a block party! Or you were on one of 60 committees with University of Missouri Extension to organize county-level efforts that account for over 14,000 acts of neighboring this year!  No matter your role or level of involvement, thank you. On another positive note, the efforts in Missouri have not gone unnoticed. In the last month, I have received inquiries about the creation of other statewide neighbor weeks from Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Washington, and Colorado. How exciting! Based on this year's results, the future seems bright. ENGAGED NEIGHBORS. We have already announced the 22 individuals being recognized as Missouri...
Read more