Rural Missouri - February 2022 - 29

neighboring which included everything from baking cookies and giving
them away with notes of encouragement to people mowing the yards of
elderly neighbors free of charge.
Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfi eld, where the Burtons attend,
recently added a neighboring outreach to their local mission efforts.
" We call it the 'We Are Neighbors Initiative,' " says Kelsey Kleier,
director of missions for the church. " We will lead the church through
six challenges throughout this year. Those will include meeting their
neighbors, praying for their neighbors and loving their neighbors by
doing acts of kindness. While there are external things to do, we're trying
to cultivate relationships. "
David makes it a priority to be available to speak, coordinate and
consult on any projects related to neighboring. A free Engaged Neighbor
newsletter is a great electronic resource for everyone. Those who
want to learn even more can attend free monthly Extension Neighboring
101 classes online or even pay to attend Neighborhood Leadership
Academy, a 10-session class offered online and in-person in the fall.
According to David, there are numerous reasons why neighboring
has changed over the years. " I've heard the blame placed on fenced
yards, homes without porches and even air conditioning, " he says,
noting the additions of cell phones and computers also allow people to
" entertain ourselves to death these days. "
While those are external sources of blame, we all get to choose how
to spend our time.
Let's face it: It's easy to pull into the driveway after work, open the
garage door, drive in and close the door. Then we pop out like weasels
from our dens the next morning, repeating the entire process. We don't
have to see anyone else unless we purposely choose to do so.
Desiring to be a good neighbor isn't a new trend. In an offi cial proclamation
in 1978, President Jimmy Carter noted, " Understanding, love
and respect build cohesive families and communities, " adding that as
the nation continued to struggle to build friendships among people in
the world, " We are mindful that the noblest human concern is concern
for others. " Since the proclamation, a day in September has been set
aside as National Good Neighbor Day, now celebrated on Sept. 28.
The concept of neighboring may seem daunting if you tend to be shy
or unsure of how to start conversations. No matter how large or how
small the effort, a good chain reaction is likely to begin. You may fi nd
a new friend or simply realize some good neighbors are there to let you
borrow a cup of sugar, if you happen to need one.
Neighboring can be as simple as a smile and a wave as you pick
up the mail or as big as hosting a neighborhood s'mores party at your
backyard fi repit. Small beginnings plant seeds which, in time, can grow
into beautiful gardens of friendship or simply make great neighbors.
" You don't need a license to change someone, " David says. " You just
need to care. "
You may contact David Burton at burtond@missouri.edu; 417-881-8909.
For more information about MU Extension's Engaged Neighbor program
or fi nd free resources, go to www.extension.missouri.edu and search for
engaged neighbor project.
Learn more about Ridgecrest Baptist Church's neighboring efforts at
www.ridgecrestbaptist.org/neighbors.
From top: Neighbors LuAnn Raberding, Tara Crawford and
Brenda White create spin art for an upcoming Neighboring
project. Daniel Simpson of Springfi eld shares sidewalk art
he helped create during a neighboring challenge. Springfi eld
neighbors host an ice cream social with a grant received from
Greene County's Extension Council. Driveway chats in the
Stoney Creek neighborhood in Republic drew good crowds this
summer. Bottom three photos on this page courtesy David Burton.
Springfield
FEBRUARY 2022 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 29
http://www.extension.missouri.edu http://www.ridgecrestbaptist.org/neighbors http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Rural Missouri - February 2022

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