National Good Neighbor Day on September 28 creates an opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other better. Join us as we acknowledge and celebrate the importance of a good neighbor.
#GoodNeighborDay
It is a blessing to have a good neighbor, but it is even a greater thing to BE a good neighbor. Good neighbors often become friends. They watch out for each other, lend a helping hand, and are there for advice when asked. Neighbors offer that cup of sugar when we are short, collect our mail when we are on vacation, watch our homes, and sometimes watch our children and our pets. Simply put, being a good neighbor makes good neighbors and develops lifelong friendships.
HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
Being a good neighbor isn’t all that difficult. Starting with kindness is always the first step.
- Offer a kind word. Even a small compliment goes a long way to creating a bond or breaking down barriers.
- Bring extra bounty from your garden or baked goods.
- Invite them to join an informal celebration in your home.
- Introduce them to your pets or offer a gardening tip.
- Ask who they recommend for a service such as taxes, painting, or car care. You will earn their respect, especially if the question is something they have first-hand experience with.
Use #GoodNeighborDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY HISTORY
In the early 1970s, Becky Mattson of Lakeside, Montana created National Good Neighbor Day. In 1978, United States President Jimmy Carter issued Proclamation 4601:
“As our Nation struggles to build friendship among the peoples of this world, we are mindful that the noblest human concern is concern for others. Understanding, love and respect build cohesive families and communities. The same bonds cement our Nation and the nations of the world. For most of us, this sense of community is nurtured and expressed in our neighborhoods where we give each other an opportunity to share and feel part of a larger family…I call upon the people of the United States and interested groups and organizations to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
The date changed in 2003 from the fourth Sunday in September to an annual observance on September 28th.
Neighbor FAQ
Q. Who are some of the best TV neighbors?
A.We have four TV neighbors we think were pretty high quality.
- Kevin Arnold would probably agree that Winnie Cooper (Danica McKeller) of The Wonder Years was a pretty amazing neighbor. As the girl-next-door, Winnie became an integral part of Kevin’s life.
- In The Big Bang Theory, neighbors Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) spent 12 seasons together. Not only did they rely on each other through thick and thin, but Penny and Leonard married, too.
- While his voice irritated, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) of Family Matters brought laughter and intelligence to his neighbors.
- The advice-giving wise Wilson (Earl Hindman) lived next door to the Taylor family in the show Home Improvement. He doled out his advice to Tim Taylor (Tim Allen) without ever showing the lower half of his face.
Q. Who wrote, “fences make good neighbors”?
A. Poet Robert Frost wrote the words “fences make good neighbors” in his poem “Mending Wall” published in 1914. Though in the poem, Frost questions the saying as he and a neighbor walk a stone fence making repairs.