Not long ago, I blogged about how some neighborhoods are starting their own sharing programs. If your neighborhood doesn’t have one, tomorrow might be a good time to talk about starting one because September 28th is National Good Neighbor Day.
Today, many of us are so busy with work or family that we don’t even pay attention to the people we live next to, which is a shame. Knowing your neighbors can be fun and rewarding, especially if you need something in a pinch.
National Good Neighbor Day was the brainchild of Mrs. Becky Mattson. Becky and her husband Dick lived in Lakeside, Montana in the early ‘70s and realized the importance of knowing your neighbors. The Mattsons were known in the community for their business, Mattson Realty, but also their volunteer work. Mattson worked with the North Shore Coalition to help stop lake erosion. She was a member of the Lakeside Community Club where she often performed as a clown during fundraisers and the annual Lakeside Community Fair.
Mattson and Congressman Mike Mansfield got Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter to sign proclamations for National Good Neighbor Day. The U.S. Senate finally passed a 2003 resolution back by Montana Senator Max Baucus that officially made September 28th National Good Neighbor Day.
Mattson died this past July 5 at the age of 88, but the day she helped get established lives on. What can you to tomorrow to help celebrate National Good Neighbor Day? How about offering to carry your neighbor’s groceries? Invited neighbors over for dinner or to gather everyone together, host a block party and get everyone involved. Have new neighbors in the community? Take them a gift basket of homemade goodies.
Or if you don’t know your neighbors at all, start with a simple smile and wave when you see them.