Editor’s note: the following was provided by LINCCK – Civility, Compassion, Kindness.
“Grow” a healthy community and gather your neighbors together the evening of Aug. 5 for National Night Out.
NNO, always the first Tuesday in August, is the perfect opportunity for a neighborhood get-together of any size, providing opportunity to meet, socialize and enhance neighborhood spirit. It can be as simple as two neighbors sharing lemonade on the front porch, root beer floats for all, a pot luck barbecue, or the street closed to a block party with music – you get to choose.
We will be healthier knowing who lives beside us, sharing friendly smiles more often and lending a helping hand more readily. Who are the young children nearby possibly benefitting from another pair of watchful eyes? Does anyone on your street have special needs and would welcome assistance in an emergency? Enhancing neighborhood camaraderie will be beneficial to all, and building goodwill and better friendships is easy. There is real power to the soul when acting benevolently, and not only will our community be more compassionate, it will be safer.
LINCCK’s goal is healthy relationships and improved interactions for those on the plateau. We are grateful to hosts of past NNO events, and the individuals and families attending. Over the last few years, firefighters took their equipment to these gatherings, but this year will be different. Some hope to join their own neighborhood experience.
This year’s theme, if you want one, is gardening. The first week of August is too late for seeds and too early for bulbs, but one can always plan. Begin with a dream, and discuss options for spring or fall. Might you have an English style “Garden Open” day, welcoming neighbors to enjoy your efforts like the Anderson’s on Roosevelt do in May?
In Switzerland there is “Foodscaping” where each garden concentrates on one fruit, vegetable or flower and everyone trades. Is there a sun-drenched spot with a chance for a community garden in your neck of the woods? Develop projects for kids, allowing them to meet other adults living nearby.
Maybe you live by an intersection where the four corners can be landscaped with coordinated efforts? Is there an unused garden, and a few rows tended by others be appreciated? Perhaps there’s a stretch of roadway or small patch of ground where wildflowers can grace the view. Planting flowers in the open will let you and all who pass share in nature’s glory, making our community healthier, happier and a nicer place to live.
Get NNO flyers at the Wellness foundation, 1675 Cole St., contact camk@enumclawrhf.org for a digital version, or call 360-802-3206.
LINCCK
Civility • Compassion • Kindness
