Life Notes: Be a Good Neighbor
by Erin Rockett, NCC, LPC, LMFT

In recent times, war images and human suffering dominate television and print media. Such images often reflect absolute misery, poverty, and lack of basic human necessities such as clean water, food, and medical care. As a relatively affluent society in comparison to many nations, we often take for granted many privileges which we consider to be basic rights. However, human suffering and difficulties are not limited to other countries, and happen all around us. As individuals, many wonder what difference one person can make. Being a good neighbor is a philosophy which starts with kind gestures and small acts in our own community, with endless potential for larger scale growth.

Below are many ideas for being “neighborly” on a personal level.

You can offer to baby sit for a young couple or for a single parent, or cook a meal to share with an elderly neighbor.

Purchase extra nonperishable food on sale and donate to a local food bank or soup kitchen.

Collect soda cans, or organize a bake sale as a fundraiser for local non-profit organizations.

Buy/donate furniture or educational supplies to a local shelter, or donate pet supplies to an animal shelter.

Sponsor humanitarian aid through an international relief organization.

Sign up to become an organ donor when renewing your drivers’ license.

Learn first aid and CPR, or donate blood to your local blood bank.

Become a homeroom helper at your local elementary school, or an after school tutor.

Arrange to teach crafts or gardening classes for residents of a local retirement home.

Mentor a child through big brothers/big sisters program, or take classes to become a visiting resource for children through the Office of Community Services.

Through the kind acts of many individuals, a world of good is accomplished.
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The Life Notes articles are written by staff of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home and are published in The Ruston Daily Leader.