Good neighbors build strong communities

National Good Neighbor Day is Sept. 28 – a day to recognize the importance of promoting kindness, respect and concern for our neighbors.

In Kingsport, we not only celebrate that day, but expand the occasion to include every day of that week. Good Neighbor Week in Kingsport runs the week of Sept. 26 through Oct. 2. It’s a week to get to know the people living next door, say “Hi” to the family down the street or throw up a friendly wave to the kids cycling by.

“There are so many simple ways to build community and be a good neighbor, not just during Good Neighbor Week, but throughout the year,” said Alanna Leonberg, chair of the Kingsport Neighborhood Commission. “We hope the week will serve as a catalyst and inspire Kingsport residents to take simple steps to actively engage with one another in a positive way.”

Here are some daily activities and challenges you could do to make a stronger connection with your neighbors:

• Monday Meet and Greet: Introduce yourself to a new neighbor you’ve never met.
• Tuesday To Do List: Complete a maintenance task you’ve been putting off doing at your home.
• Wednesday Walk About: Walk your neighborhood and pick up any trash you see.
• Thursday Thanks: Write a note of thanks or give a gift of appreciation to a neighbor.
• Friday Fun: Invite your neighbors to do something social with you.
• Saturday Service: Help a neighbor with a task or chore they may be unable to accomplish on their own.
• Sunday Smiles: Smile and wave at every neighbor you see.

Feel free to add to this list or change up the activities to any day you choose.

National Good Neighbor Day was created in the early 1970s by Becky Mattson of Lakeside, Montana. In 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter officially declared the day a national holiday.

The Kingsport Neighborhood Commission is a 12-person volunteer organization that serves to strengthen Kingsport’s neighborhoods by providing a communication channel between neighborhoods and the city, as well as providing guidance on neighborhood solutions.

To help you and your neighbors in more direct ways, you can check out the online Neighborhood Toolbox at www.kptneighborhoods.com, which provides a variety of resources in a user-friendly, easy-to-read format.

Here, you’ll learn how to pay bills online, how to protect your family in an emergency, how to form a neighborhood association, and much more.

For more information about the Kingsport Neighborhood Commission visit www.kptneighborhoods.com. The commission’s next meeting is Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at Kingsport City Hall.