100 Ways to Engage Your Neighborhood

Looking for ways to be a change agent in your community or neighborhood?
Community organizer?


 The Lord created each of us individually with different Spiritual Gifts, Passions, Abilities, Strengths and a unique Personality with different Experiences. Discovering our S.H.A.P.E  helps people put the pieces of the puzzle together, so we each can be most effective in our families, church, community and the world.  When we serve according to our SHAPE, we leave a legacy that gives glory to the LORD so when we stand before Him one day, we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 

If you don't know your S.H.A.P.E... Check this post!

Now we will be looking at ways we can use these "gifts" from the Lord more effectively!

We will also be looking at ways to use them in our Families, jobs or careers, communities and out in the world.

This is a CTA!  Call to Action!

What’s your passion?

So, no matter what your S.H.A.P.E is...it should be relatively easy to find something in this list that we are interested in, passionate about and would have fun and joy doing!  

100 Ways to Engage Your Neighborhood

Connect with J.C. Heiden: J.C. Heiden
Pastor of Local Outreach
jheiden@eastbrook.org

J.C. has a group going out into the immediate neighborhood weekly. 

But this is something anyone can do in their own neighborhood! Best doing it with a partner..that has other abilities, gifts, talents or strengths than you do. Remember, there is no "I" in team!

 I have found that it is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around me. Most of the things on this list are normal, everyday things that many people are already doing. The hope is that we would do these things with Gospel intentionality. This means we do them:

• In the normal rhythms of life pursuing to meet and engage new people
• Prayerfully watching and listening to discern where God is working
• Boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaiming the Gospel in word and deed

Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to help you engage your neighbors. Would love to hear stories of how you have lived some of these out or other ways you have engaged your neighbors.

Neighbors – Your Immediate Neighborhood

1. Stay outside in the front yard longer while watering the yard
2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood
3. Sit on the front porch and letting kids play in the front yard
4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.)
5. Invite neighbors over for dinner
6. Attend and participate in HOA functions
7. Attend the parties invited to by neighbors
8. Do a food drive or coat drive in winter and get neighbors involved
9. Host a music share party in your home (everyone brings 5 favorite songs and discusses)
10. Offer to mow someone’s yard who needs it on your street
11. Have a garage sale
12. Organize a tasting tour on your street (everyone sets up food and table on front porch)
13. Cook Out with gate open, or even in the front yard and let neighbors know they are welcome to join.
14. Have a game night (yard games outside, or board games inside)
15. Art swap night – bring out what you’re tired of and trade with neighbors
16. Grow a garden and give out extra produce to neighbors
17. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite neighbors use their front yards
18. Start a weekly open meal night in your home
19. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute
20. Create a block/ street email and phone contact list for safety
21. Invite your neighbors to serve along with you for a local cause in your community
22. Organize a backyard movie night for kids on your block
23. Prayer walk and talk to people you come across
24. Jog outside instead of on the treadmill
25. Pull their trash back in when you notice its out
26. Cook an extra casserole and give it to a neighbor
27. Buy an extra dozen donuts and give them to a neighbor
28. Start a compost pile and allow neighbors to dump their compost and take
29. Host a sports game watching party
30. Host a coffee and dessert night
31. Organize and host a ladies craft night
32. Organize an effort for neighbors to help take care of elderly in neighborhood
33. Become a regular at your neighborhood pool/park
34. If you have a skill, let neighbors know that you can use it to help them for free
35. Host a movie night and discussion afterwards
36. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood
37. Start hosting a play date weekly for other stay at home parents
38. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas
39. Collect good will store items and offer to take them to goodwill
40. Have a front yard ice cream party in the summer
41. Start a sowing group
42. Go Christmas caroling in your neighborhood (invite neighbors in on it)
43. Throw a July 4th block party
44. Start a neighborhood Facebook/Twitter/Google + group
45. Ask longtime residents to help you learn about the neighborhood
46. Offer to babysit neighbors kids so they can have a date night
47. Find out your neighbors birthdays and take them a card and baked goods on it
48. Setup a meet your neighbors night with drinks in your driveway/front yard
49. Ask your HOA or apartment complex if they need help with anything
50. Host a regular Saturday morning breakfast potluck

Extended Neighborhood – The Regular Spots In Your City

1. Frequent a local gym or recreation center
2. Find a park that you consistently spend time with your community at
3. Pick a few restaurants to frequent getting to know the staff and regulars there
4. Go to the same coffee shop when you can
5. Start a regular ultimate Frisbee game in your city
6. Take the kids to story time at your local library
7. Let your kids play in the city sports leagues
8. Attend your city council meetings and get to know what’s going on in your city
9. Attend your local school board meetings to know what is going on in the schools
10. Participate in the local festivals, parades and celebrations of your city
11. Invite a neighbor to a local sporting event
12. Start a guys night at your local pub/eatery
13. Get involved in your kids school PTA
14. Connect with other home school kids through local coop events
15. Be a part of your local genealogical society
16. Tip generously at your regular restaurant spots
17. Participate in local film viewings and discussions
18. Attend your local High Schools sporting events
19. Coach a local little league sports team
20. Offer to teach free computer training sessions at your local library/public venue
21. Start a Study Group at a local place that needs business
22. Be a regular with your kids at the same playscape/restaurant during the day
23. Ask your local college how you can help serve international students
24. Get involved with your local lions or rotary club to learn about the community.
25. Find a local tweet-up group to meet with regularly
26. Frequent a live music night at your local coffee shop or bar
27. Make a routine of taking the family to a evening recreation spot (pool, jump zone, etc.)
28. Find a local philosophy/theology discussion group and become a regular participant
29. Find a baking meet up group and be a part of their activities
30. Go to the same hair stylist/barber and get to know them
31. Find your local bank representative and get to know them
32. Be a regular at your local farmers market
33. Take a regular stroll at your local park
34. Take your dog to the dog park in your city
35. Start a local art collective blog and organize around different themes
36. Have gospel discussions in public places where others can listen in
37. Check your areas craig’s list for community service needs
38. Ask a local restaurant owner how you could bless their employees
39. Frequent the same gas station and make an effort to get to know the workers there
40. Watch sporting events at the same local sports bar/restaurant in your city
41. When you can, support local businesses and get to know the people in that business.
42. Visit your cities visitors center to learn about the it’s history
43. Start a storytelling group at your local coffee shop
44. Organize a kids fun day at your city park
45. Offer free computer/technology help for elderly citizens in your area
46. Start a bike repair co-op
47. Cook out at your local park and invite the people there to eat with you
48. Start a sowing class at your local community center
49. Organize a co-working time at your local coffee shop for people who work at home

50. Join a city softball, soccer, football, basketball league.

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If you have read this far...maybe you might want to research how you could use your "gifts' in a national organization...that might  have a local chapter. 

http://northshorefinishingwellgroup.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-volunteering-and-my-financial-giving.html