NeighborWorks Green Bay, Green Bay Neighborhoods, and the City of Green held its 4th Annual Good Neighbor Week event, hosted annually in the last week of September. During the week, 9 selected properties benefited from the effort and talents of 85 volunteers, totaling 445 hours, completing minor home repairs and landscaping projects. Both homeowners and volunteers benefited from the experience. The improvements for one homeowner proved to be life-altering, “Their efforts brought back to me a sense of being, for a homeowner who was ready to give up. In a way they saved my life.” Another commented that after 25 years of working her gardens, the weeds had taken over. These volunteers, “Gave me the spiritual connection to my gardens again. My heart is smiling.” For the volunteers, the rewards were just as gratifying. As one volunteer remarked, “Seeing the homeowner and her daughters’ reactions to our work, made every minute worth it.” That’s what “Good Neighbors do to make Good Neighborhoods”.
During Good Neighbor Week entire homes were painted including two with the help of volunteers from Imperial Supplies, The Shipyard Neighborhood Association, and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich. According to event coordinator Vicki Bokelman, the mayor’s willingness to help promote Good Neighbor week with videos and grabbing a paint brush, illustrates the City’s commitment to our neighborhoods. Much of our success “comes down to volunteers seeking to make a difference”.
Additionally, corporate sponsors and their employees continue to provide immeasurable support. They included Nicolet National Bank, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Area Realty, The Home Depot Foundation and local Home Depot volunteers, as well as Festival Foods.
Our gratitude is also extended to organizational sponsors- Immel Construction, Preble Green Bay Preble Optimists Club, Gauthier and Sons, and Gagnon Clay Products. Subway Foods also provided a substantial discount to provide lunch for our volunteers.
Many of the established Neighborhoods Associations within Green Bay participated with simple gestures of neighborhood walks, delivering cookies and pies to new friends, and events that help connect neighbors. Plans are already underway for Good Neighbor Week-September 22-28, 2024-celebrating 5 years of neighbors helping neighbors.
For more information about getting involved, volunteering, giving a gift, ways to be a good neighbor, and other ways to participate, visit www.nwgreenbay.org/good-neighbor-week/
