Coming to a community
near you--
Neighbor's Day
September 25, 2004
|
 |
DO
YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR?
|
|
In
an era of high tech communication and remote control everything, the days
of block parties and neighborly get-togethers are few and far apart. Many
of the friendly front porch American suburbs of decades past have become
streets of strangers. Thanks to the Neighbor’s Day Initiative Group (NDIG),
a publicly supported not-for-profit organization promoting safer neighborhoods
through positive communication, many neighbors will finally find the time
to walk outside and get to know the people we share every day of our lives
with. On the last Saturday in September (September 25, 2004), thousands
of Americans will once again take time out to say hi to their neighbors
and try to rectify this collapse of community communication.
|
“Fifty years
ago everyone knew their neighbors and we did not have violent crime and
child abductions being common place,” states NDIG founder Mike Corrigan, "It’s
(Neighbor’s Day) a real simple concept. Know your neighbors and safer neighborhoods
will follow.”
|
Neighbor’s Day, founded in Ohio by writer Mike Corrigan,
is already a state recognized day of celebration and growing nationally
in popularity. Since 1999, school systems, community-minded individuals
and organizations, and crime prevention groups have taken part in a month
long series of activities and lessons focusing on teaching the responsibilities
of being better neighbors. Students were given community-minded assignments
designed to teach the youth of today the citizenship commitments of earlier
decades. The Better Neighbors Program, NDIG’s youth efforts, has awarded
thousands of dollars in scholarships to students who took part in the “Favor
For A Neighbor Challenge” that allows kids to get a first hand experience
at how good it feels to do good deeds. |
|
Last year for example, thanks in part to a grant
given by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Bureau of Justice
Assistance in West Virginia, NDIG continued its neighborly efforts and
scholarship programs in Mon County West Virginia.With
assistance from the Morgantown Police Department, Mon County Sheriff’s
Department, and the DARE program, NDIG will challenge all citizens in the
community to get out and do a “Favor For A Neighbor” on Neighbor’s Day.NDIG’s
hope is to remind adults of the role model they must play for our children
and give the youth of the community a chance to experience the benefits
of doing good deeds in one’s community.Neighbor’s
Day and its many activities create a tighter knit community with lower
crime rates and healthier, safer environments for children.
NDIG hopes that all neighbors take a few hours on Neighbor’s Day to do
a ‘Favor for a Neighbor’ and create a stronger neighborhood network. NDIG
urges all individuals and groups to start planning their Neighbor’s Day
activities immediately. From your classic block party to a simple “Hi neighbor”,
the list of Neighbor’s Day festivities is endless. 
Check
out what the Christian Science Monitor has to say about Neighbors Day...
*Check the ARCHIVES
for past articles on our site!
|
|
| Home
| Contact | The
Welcome Mat | Library
| Better
Neighbor's Program | Neighbor
Of The Month Award |
How To Be A Better Neighbor | Neighborly
Quotes | Our Sponsors
If you or your organization would
care to help us, please email us at Neighbor@NeighborsDay.org
OR fill out our contact
form OR snail mail us at 22 Walnut, Morgantown,
WV, 26505. Don't forget to bookmark us!
"Neighbor's Day Initiative Group is a non-profit
publicly supported organization." |
|