reVitalize South Bend

Be Neighborly

September 11, 2012 at 4:05 pm Leave a comment

There are so many reasons to help out a neighbor. You could look in the Bible (James 2:8 in The Message states: You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.”), you could realize that it takes a good neighbor to have a good neighbor (for sure), or you could believe in karma or the idea that we are on this planet to help others. Whatever moves you into action, get ready to raise a rake, push a lawn mower, or pick up a paint brush on October 6th and 7th during The Weekend Project.

The Weekend Project is a collaborative effort where neighborhood associations, neighbors, business owners, houses of worship and organizations within each neighborhood in South Bend come together to work on at least one property in their neighborhood.

Things to get you started:
1. Contact your neighborhood association.
2. Walk or drive around your neighborhood to look for properties in need of attention.
3. Talk to your neighbors.
4. Talk to businesses, houses of worship and other organizations in your neighborhood.

Project ideas:
1. Find a homeowner (elderly or otherwise in need) that needs assistance
2. Clean up yards of vacant or abandoned homes
3. Plant a community garden in an open space / vacant lot (with permission from homeowner)
4. Clean up a local park or other common space
5. Remove or paint over graffiti
6. Paint on boarded up properties (paint boards to look like windows, doors, etc.) – this will have much impact on the gateways into South Bend as well as in neighborhoods

We have identified some areas on the southside as well as near Coquillard Park that could benefit from neighborly love. But we know there are many other areas. Please consider taking time this week to find a property and talk to your neighbors. Then post here what area of town you plan to impact. We’ll be glad to help you get organized and find additional volunteers. After all, that’s what this whole weekend is about. Let your voices be heard!!

Entry filed under: Build a Better South Bend, Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Tags: be neighborly, Bible, karma, neighbor, South Bend, the wee, weekend project.