NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
NATIONAL GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
National Good Neighbor Day on September 28 waves a friendly hello to the people right next door! This day is a golden opportunity to break the ice, build community, and celebrate the incredible value of a great neighbor.
#GoodNeighborDay
Good neighbors often become our closest friends. They are the ones who watch out for our homes, collect our mail while we are away, and happily pass a cup of sugar over the fence. They lend a helping hand when a tree branch falls and offer a word of comfort when times get tough. Simply put, being a good neighbor creates a ripple effect of kindness, turning a simple street into a true, lifelong community.
“It is a blessing to have a good neighbor, but it is an even greater thing to BE a good neighbor.”
Neighborhood dynamics have drastically shifted compared to previous decades. It seems tight-knit neighborhoods are a thing of the past. Recent data shows nearly 1 in 3 Americans actively avoid their neighbors, and 74% report that they don't feel a strong sense of community where they live. Many people have a deep fear of being intrusive or facing rejection, while others don't know how to make small talk. The rise of smart doorbells, grocery delivery apps, and global digital networks, also make it easier to live next door to someone without knowing who they are!
Rebuilding a sense of community doesn't mean you have to host a massive block party or become best friends. You can break the ice with a simple, friendly wave when pulling out of the driveway. Saying "hi" or "have a good day" is a great way to interact with your neighbor without feeling you're invading your neighbor's space. Casual politeness can create a welcoming space in a neighborhood.
HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
Being a good neighbor doesn't require a lot of work. In fact, many times, being a good neighbor starts with a simple act kindness.
You don't need a special occasion to get together. Put a couple of lawn chairs on your driveway, set out a cooler of drinks, and text your neighbors to swing by for a casual, 30-minute after-work gathering.
If your garden produced to many tomatoes or cucumbers, drop off a basket of the extra on your neighbor’s porch with a "Just Because" note.
Create a group chat with your neighbors to share information about neighborhood activities, like a missing pet, a package delivery to the wrong house, or if someone needs a hand with something at their home.
Ask your neighbors for a recommendation to a good mechanic, their go-to plumber, or even the best place to grab tacos in town.
If a neighbor is sick or hurt, offer to help with yardwork or bringing food over for them until they recover.
Visit the National Good Neighbor Day website to join the good neighbor movement to make the world a better place, one neighborhood at a time.
As always, share your tips on how to become a good neighbor or what your neighborhood does to keep communication open on social media using the hashtag #GoodNeighborDay.
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.