There’s something special about Northwest Missouri. It’s in the familiar faces at the local coffee shop, the conversations that happen at Friday night games, the volunteers who show up when help is needed, and the neighbors who know your name. These everyday connections are part of what makes our communities feel like home. That spirit is at the heart of Maximize NWMO’s new “Make It Home: Live Local. Love Local. ” campaign. The initiative encourages residents across the region to take simple, intentional steps toward building stronger communities and deeper relationships with the people around them. In a world where many people feel increasingly disconnected, the campaign offers a refreshing reminder: thriving communities don’t happen by accident. They are created through small acts of engagement, kindness, and participation. The Power of Local Connections Research consistently shows that communities are stronger when people know and trust one another. Social connections contribu...

When organizations talk about employee volunteerism, the conversation usually sounds the same: organized service days, nonprofit partnerships, and hours logged in a tracking system. That model matters—but it’s incomplete. What often goes unrecognized is that some of the most impactful forms of volunteerism are happening informally, right outside people’s front doors. It’s time to expand how we define volunteerism—and in doing so, unlock a more inclusive, accessible, and powerful way for employees to contribute. Volunteerism Is Bigger Than We Think At its core, volunteerism is simple: freely choosing to help others.  But globally, most volunteer activity doesn’t happen through formal programs. It’s informal, relational, and hyper-local. It looks like: Checking in on a neighbor going through a tough time Bringing meals to a family in transition Helping with childcare or errands Clearing snow, mowing lawns, or sharing tools Hosting gatherings that bring people together These acts are ...

  What does it look like to build a more connected state? Not through massive programs or one-time events. But through thousands of small, consistent acts. That is what the final 2025 Missouri Good Neighbor Week “acts of neighboring” database report reveals. Across the state, people took time to care for one another in ways that often go unnoticed. They mowed a neighbor’s yard. They brought in trash bins. They shared food when it was needed most. They checked in, sat on porches, and had conversations that turned strangers into neighbors. Individually, these actions may seem small (although we recorded over 42,000 of them). Collectively, they tell a different story. They show us what neighboring actually looks like in real life. The most common acts were practical. Helping with everyday needs. Taking care of spaces. Showing up in quiet, consistent ways. These are the kinds of actions that don’t require planning or permission. They simply require awareness and willingness. ...

  Something fun is about to happen. We’ve taken 64 different neighboring activities and turned them into a March-Madness-style tournament bracket . Over the coming weeks, people will vote, debate, and ultimately crown a “champion” neighboring activity. You can vote in different rounds online . But before the first matchup even begins, something interesting has already happened.  People from around the nation submitted actions for the bracket a month earlier. And when you look closely at the full list of 64 ideas, you begin to see patterns. The list reveals some important truths about how neighboring actually works in real life. And perhaps the most encouraging lesson is this:  Neighboring is simpler than most people think. Neighboring Happens in Small Moments Many of the activities on the list are incredibly simple: Coffee chats. Delivering flowers. Writing thank-you notes. Inviting a neighbor for a walk. Putting out a water bowl for neighborhood dogs. These are not large...

  Missouri Good Neighbor Week has always been about one thing: reminding us that the people who live closest to us matter most. But this year, we are making an important shift. Our new theme says it clearly:  “A Year of Neighboring Activity, A Week to Celebrate It.” At first glance, that may sound like a simple slogan. In reality, it represents something much bigger. It marks the evolution of Missouri Good Neighbor Week from a single annual event into a year-round movement. For years, we encouraged Missourians to do something intentional during the week of September 28 through October 4. Host a gathering. Check on a neighbor. Deliver cookies. Write a thank-you note. Organize a block cleanup. And thousands did. But neighboring was never meant to be seasonal. It was never meant to be squeezed into one week. It is something that happens on ordinary Tuesdays in February, on hot evenings in July, on snowy mornings in January. It happens when someone notices a porch light left on. W...

Feed the Need Volunteers: Manchester residents packaged meals during the “Feed the Need” event, showing that service projects strengthen community bonds while helping those in need. The City of Manchester has steadily cultivated a “neighboring culture” in recent years, and now that spirit is visible across a range of programs leading into Missouri Good Neighbor Week.  What began in 2021 when Alderwoman Megan Huether first explored the idea of neighboring has grown into a movement that is shaping civic life. “As a newly elected city council member, I was looking for ways to connect people and strengthen neighborhoods,” Huether recalled. “When I discovered the concept of neighboring, it clicked immediately—this was the path to building belonging in Manchester.” That spark has grown into something much larger.  “Over the past 18 months, we’ve launched and expanded several initiatives and events, many of which tie directly to Good Neighbor Week’s mission,” said Lisa Wigger, Commun...

Missouri Good Neighbor Week (MGNW) is returning this fall (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4) with a renewed focus on documenting acts of kindness and neighborliness.  As an extra incentive this year, participants have a chance to win part of over $1,000 in cash prizes. All individuals who complete a short survey about their act of neighboring will be automatically entered into a random drawing for cash prizes. “We didn’t want to continue selecting acts of neighboring we considered ‘best’ for prizes, because what is best varies from community to community depending on the needs of your neighbors,” said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “Instead, we want to encourage Missourians to visit our website and tell us about their act of neighboring. We want to reward 50 or so people for taking the time to tell us what they did.” The goal for 2025 is ambitious: document 35,000 acts of neighboring during the week-...