National Night Out, Make a Difference Day In

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Lots of good stories on last night’s night out (although some got rained out and moved down)

Neighbors gather to celebrate National Night Out

San Antonio Express – Eva Ruth Moravec, Valentino Lucio – Allie Hostetter looked around the Calvary Temple parking lot as hundreds gathered to watch a local elementary school choir, grabbed a bite to eat and chatted with friends. For Hostetter and the El Chaparral-Fertile Valley Neighborhood Association, Tuesday’s inaugural National Night Out event was a complete success. “We’re really proud of all the neighbors, businesses and everyone else that have helped us,” Hostetter said. “We didn’t expect this.”

Communities gather during ‘Night Out’

Brazosport Facts – Jones Creek officials were “ecstatic” Tuesday after more than 100 adults and their children attended the city’s first National Night Out event. The front lawn of City Hall was packed with residents talking with Jones Creek marshal’s officers, volunteer firefighters, Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner and Pct. 4 Constable Fred Kanter.

We met people last night from all sides of every one of these hills in our little community. And we are indeed a community, with just a few roads winding around all these hills, some houses visible from the roads, others tucked way back and hidden in the woods. Honestly, I didn’t realize that so many families were in here to begin with– so there are more houses hidden by the woods and the trees that I imagined.

More NNO news here.

Lots of buzz on Make a Difference Day

In the old news, and the new news. If you need ideas, try these: Project Ideas for Make a Difference Day, 77 ways to build community in your neighborhood, 50 ways to serve in your neighborhood, and 31 ways to create sustainable neighborhoods.

And in other news of good people doing good …

Neighborhood Harvest shares bounty

Mail Tribune – Sarah Lemon – The Ashland couple, who usually share the bounty with nearby families, decided to expand their definition of “neighbor.” Neighborhood Harvest, an organization founded in Ashland last year, picked all the plums free of charge. After the group’s volunteers kept a portion of the 30-pound harvest, local food banks received about a third, and a third was set aside for sale at the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market. “At this point, we’re totally funded by the fruit sales,” says Josh Shupack, who manages the program.

Huber Heights family devoted to volunteerism

Dayton Daily News – Beth Anspach – When Brooke Davidson of Huber Heights was just 5 years old, she began an outreach to those less fortunate that continues to this day. Now 14, Brooke and her entire family are devotees of volunteerism and believe that “giving back,” should be the center of everyone’s lives. “I went with my mom to help homeless people when I was 5,” Brooke said, “And we ended up producing a play to help bring attention to homelessness.”

NORCs: Unique Havens for an Aging America

Yahoo! News – Philip Moeller – Lillian Miceli owns her home, has no plans to leave, and looks forward to many more good years. But, at 89, with knees “that are shot,” she needs a lot of help to remain independent. Fortunately, a program in the western suburbs of St. Louis sends volunteer students from Washington University in St. Louis to tend her yard. Pete Pozefsky, a Boeing engineer who lives in the area and volunteers for the program, stops by to help her solve a computer problem, then sticks around to move some heavy boxes. Other volunteers periodically assist with physically demanding chores, and staffers of this unique program provide social and community support services.

Making Community Happen Here, and other stories

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Making Community Happen Here

Richmond Times Dispatch – David T. Anderson – What if we brought together a disparate group of people who serve wide-ranging needs through a variety of institutions, and the families they serve, and worked together to build community? An expanding group of local people is doing just that, and last Sunday many of them gathered at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Grove Avenue to celebrate the work they are doing in partnership with one another.

‘Heartwarming’ turnout for event

Williamsport Sun-Gazette – David Thompson – L-3 Communications employees washed windows at Hope Enterprises Inc., Susquehanna Health workers painted the dining room and office at St. Anthony’s Center, Lycoming College students mulched around trees at Brandon Park, the Young Professionals trimmed trees, loaded brush and leveled tombstones at the Oval Cemetery, and Pennsylvania College of Technology students performed work at the Children’s Discovery Workshop. Elsewhere, volunteers cut grass, painted, cleaned, organized, repaired, landscaped – anything that was needed to help the organizations.

Valley Mission volunteers brighten up the place

Staunton News Leader – Cindy Corell – Beneath the cross-shaped sign that says, “Jesus saves,” the folks among us who need the most help are being welcomed, nurtured and given a chance to grow. But it is a program that offers a hand up, not a handout, Reed says. To make it work, the guests must look for work, save their money, help with cleaning, cooking and serving others.

A well-spent $8

Suffolk News-Herald – Tim Reeves – Marlow is nothing more than a 4-way stop in central Baldwin County, but during heavy rains, floods, hurricanes and fires, this department provided quick and dependable emergency service to those of us living along Fish River. The members of that department had other jobs, but aside from their family and their faith, they had no bigger calling. For the men and women who volunteer in these area departments, their instincts to go into a burning home at the risk of their own lives is something all to rare in our society. They do so without call for fame or riches, but for the chance to serve their community and protect their neighbors. Saturday’s fish fry was an effort by the department to raise needed funds to help augment its force with new equipment and pay for upgrades to current equipment, while reducing the burden on Suffolk taxpayers. The $8 plate was well worth the investment.

Nixon embraces idea of church-state disaster relief partnership

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Tim Townsend – White has persuaded two governors — one a Republican and the other a Democrat — to follow his advice and organize religious groups in partnership with government to prepare for calamity. In doing so, White has helped Missouri emerge as a model for states hoping to forge partnerships between church and government for disasters. He has done so despite long-standing concerns about the separation of church and state, especially when it comes to government funding.

A beautiful day comes to town, and other stories

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A beautiful idea comes to town

Duncan Banner – Kevin Kerr – The idea got to her, and she came up with something that has turned into a day-long event called Neighbors helping Neighbors. The event won’t be limited to curb cleaning, but to whatever community members think needs to be done in their neighborhoods to help clean up the look of Duncan, and to help their neighbors with tasks that they might not be able to do. “We get so busy doing our jobs and the things we need to do in life that we really don’t visit with neighbors anymore,” Bowden said. “We go to work, church, school functions for our kids day after day, but we don’t stop and find out from our neighbors if they’re doing OK. We need each other. If we’re all so busy, we miss out on finding out about each other.”

Choosing green path to jobs

The Spokesman Review – Cindy Hval – Summer jobs are hard to come by for young teens. Paper routes are scarce and often taken by adults with cars. Fast-food restaurants don’t hire anyone under 16, and day care centers have reduced the amount of baby-sitting jobs available. Yet 14-year-old Dave Howell not only earned income this summer, he also gained job skills that will serve him well throughout his life.

1600 Springfield College students, faculty, staff, help clean up Springfield

The Republican – MassLive.com – George W. Graham – The city is a bit cleaner and brighter and lot more neighborly today thanks to a small army of volunteers provided by Springfield College.  Some 1,600 Springfield College volunteers, clad in distinctive yellow T-shirts, fanned across the city Thursday as part of the college’s 12th annual Humanics in Action Day. “It makes us more powerful,” said 70-year-old Mattie M. Jenkins, a parent facilitator at the William N. DeBerry School where 30 to 40 volunteers volunteered their time.

Seattle Post Intelligencer – Sharon Hong – It’s been six years since 15-year-old Sobhi Subeh stood on two legs. Six years ago at his home in war-torn Gaza, Sobhi, at the age of 9, was severely injured when a bomb landed on his family’s farm field where he was helping his parents work. Three days passed before Sobhi awoke to find himself in a hospital with only half a left leg. Weeks passed before he got out of bed and started a new life on crutches.

Newberry welcomes Hope house to the neighborhood

Williamsport Sun-Gazette – Shawna T. Turner – Two agencies with the desire to help those in need have joined forces to bring six individuals – some of whom have never even had their own room – the house they deserve. Hope Enterprises and Habitat for Humanity partnered to build a new home in Newberry for the six, who are living in the Hope system.

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Habitat for Humanity Home Receives A Lot of Help

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Transcript: Ground was broken on a new home back in May that is bringing one community together in the spirit of service.

Habitat for humanity is known across the country for helping people to live the dream of owning their home. Tuesday night that dream became a little closer to reality for one Pocatello family and its thanks to a group of young men.

It was a buzz of excitement as a couple dozen boy scouts offered a hand to the newest neighbors.

It may not look like much now, but in the coming months this foundation will take shape for the Sheppard family.

They received the good news last week that this habitat for humanity home would soon be theirs.

Tiffany is a single mom who lives in a cramped apartment with her two daughters. The three are more than ready for a space of their own.

Tiffany Sheppard, home recipient: “We’re just looking forward to going forward and getting into our new home.”

The excitement hasn’t settled down since the May groundbreaking. The boy scouts helped to shovel dirt, haul lumber, and move rocks. The work was done in preparation for Saturday’s framing crew.

Tiffany: “I’m ready to go forward. I’m so excited. It’s like a pay it forward process.”

Tiffany says this home brings a new outlook on life, something she is very grateful for.

Tiffany: “Put me in a better spot so I can take better care of my two girls. That’s the most important thing. I’m just really happy.”

The goal is to have the house completed by April 1st of next year. Organizers say is a very ambitious goal, but they are determined to reach it.

For more information about becoming a volunteer for Gate City Habitat for Humanity, please call (208) 233-9081.

via Habitat for Humanity Home Receives A Lot of Help – KPVI NEWS 6: Pocatello, Idaho Falls-Weather, Sports, News-. By Stuart Summers