October will be a month that we will concentrate and share our love, compassion, and community with our neighbors. We encourage you to take a step in serving and loving those in nearest proximity. You’ll find some ideas below, but feel free to do whatever comes to mind. The important thing is to do something that shares the love of Christ.
Download a PDF of these ideas here.
- Draw a map of your nearest neighbors. Try to fill in their names. If you don’t know their names, make an effort in person or look online. Post it in a place where you can memorize and pray for them by name.
- If you have kids at home, consider the parents of their friends and use that as a bridge to reach out and invite them over.
- Put a welcome basket together for a new neighbor. Be on the lookout for moving trucks.
- Make some meals to put in the freezer so when a neighbor has a crisis, you have something ready to show love with.
- Consider a dessert or ice cream party in the front yard. Invite a few houses on either side of you.
- Take a prayer walk down your street and pray for anything your observe or know about your community.
- If you have a widow nearby, consider a visit, a small gift, or meeting any needs they may have.
- Use an upcoming sports game as a reason to have some people over. Invite neighbors to bring tailgate foods and enjoy some conversation.
- Volunteer at a local school.
- On Oct 31, your front porch may get many visitors for candy. Consider a Jesus-focused message on your treats.
- Is there a need in your neighborhood no one is addressing? Something that needs attention that no one else has stepped up to do? Invite a neighbor or two and organize the project.
- If you are out in the yard and a neighbor drives up or walks by, stop what you are doing and give a greeting. You never know where the conversation will go.
- Organize a progressive dinner.
- Pay attention to your neighborhood Facebook page or Nextdoor.com comments. Is God prompting you to meet a need you see?
- Host a neighborhood game night.
- Leaves will be dropping soon. Is there an elderly couple you can serve by helping in the yard?
- Young moms, consider posting in your neighborhood message board and host a play date nearby.
- Leave a gift basket on someone’s doorstep “just because.
- Have a day where you (an invite neighbors) walk along the streets and pick up trash.
- Invite someone to church or a Bible study at your home.
- Fire up the grill and have a bring your own meat night with neighbors.
- Have a pumpkin carving contest.
- Have a fire pit? Strike a match and invited some neighbors over for hot chocolate.
- Serve on the PTO board at a school.
- Attend a neighborhood HOA meeting and listen for opportunities.
- If you have a truck, offer to haul limbs or other debris off after a storm.
- Bake treats and drop off at the police station, fire station, or hospital waiting room.
- Ask your child’s teacher if there is any thing you can provide for their classroom.
- Organize a neighborhood canned food drive.
- Create a block/street email and phone contact list for safety.
- When at a restaurant, let your server know you are about to pray for your meal. Ask them if there is anything you can pray for them about (and tip well!).
- Ask if there is an international student in your area and treat them to a local experience.
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