Increase Community Spirit on National Night Out

by Susan Schopp

Have you noticed? Community spirit has been growing! While isolated for so long many of us dropped participation in many “extracurricular” activities, including volunteering. However, studies show that there is a renewed interest in serving others.

Volunteerism is going up and donations are also rising. And it’s not because people are suddenly feeling charitable, rather it is rising because more people are looking around at things they feel need to be improved and taking action.

Projects such as community gardens, food donation, clothing and blood drives are finding their way back into our lives. Creative ways of repurposing, swapping clothes, food, furniture and many other household items are popping up.

“A new survey findings from CivicScience show that providing mutual aid – “giving back” – is becoming increasingly important to Americans, despite the pressures of inflation and COVID-19.”

This new interest in improving our communities is driven by a desire to help people or the community. In fact, 66% of volunteers do so for a cause they support or there are specific groups of people and/or communities they wish to help. Next on the survey is due to a wish to interact socially, coming in at, 12%. Interesting, the study found that “younger adults are nearly three times as likely than those over the age of 35 to volunteer for socialization reasons.”

As a company that focuses on enhancing communication among neighbors, Neighborhood News, Inc. we have been fielding an increase of calls from residents eager to increase communication in their neighborhoods, a sure sign that many are looking at ways to enlist additional help, support, or participation.

Neighborhoods managed by homeowner associations are looking for and finding better partnerships with managers focused on positive and beneficial programs for residents. The belief that management companies are only focused on violations is being replaced with progressive companies that are taking a larger part in the community by “giving back”, creating events, and improving communication.

Community Association Institute, a trade association for community managers, neighborhood leaders and hoa vendors, is an excellent resource for research and education on the state of HOA’s. Check out “Common Ground”, their subscription monthly magazine that always covers topics of use to those interested in neighborhood and community issues.

U.S. News website “Healthiest Communities” is another good resource for learning about how your community ranks on health, safety, economy, community vitality and more. A slider helps you identify communities that rank high in categories that are important to you.

National Night Out is one of the most popular opportunities to show community spirit in your neighborhood.

Although many communities have changed or “adjusted” the name of National Night Out for reasons that range from politics to trademark issues, or to better define community goals. National Night Out Against Crime, National Night Out Without Police, Neighbors Night Out, Night to Unite, and my favorite, National Reconnect with your Community Night, all fall on the same day as the original National Night Out, which part of the country celebrates on the second Tues in August and the rest the second Tuesday in October, (October 4).

We appreciate your interest in neighborhood issues. Please feel free to share or respond with issues in your neighborhood that you feel should be addressed.

In order to better serve you and help you understand what we do and how we do it, we have developed a page that explains our services and how you can get started increasing activity in your community now.