Good Neighbor | Good Neighbor Stories

Introducing the Good Neighbor Stories 2013 Datebook

September 6, 2012 By Pam Marino

I am very proud to announce that pre-sales are underway for the Good Neighbor Stories 2013 Datebook! Now you can start every day feeling good about the world using the inspirational stories and photos from this very blog.

“Be a good neighbor, share good stories,” has always been at the heart of what I’ve encouraged here, and my hope is that the datebook will motivate users to do both each day of 2013.

Throughout the datebook you’ll see some of the wonderful volunteers and organizations featured on the website, like Yasmine Davis of Make a Birthday Wish, the teen who throws birthday parties for less fortunate kids, and Dave Severns, who before he passed away raised thousands of dollars for the hungry through his amazing Christmas light display, plus many more.

You can see a low resolution preview PDF of the datebook here.

The datebook would not have happened without my friends Derrick Kikuchi and Craig Wiesner at Reach and Teach. We became friends two years ago after I featured their peace and social justice learning company on this blog. Derrick proposed the idea of the datebook over lunch one day, and we have been working together since then to pull it all together. Orders for the book are on their Reach and Teach website. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Good Neighbor Tagged With: Craig Wiesner, datebook, Derrick Kikuchi, Good Neighbor Stories, Good Neighbor Stories 2013 Datebook, Reach and Teach

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in September

September 4, 2012 By Pam Marino

September is the “Other New Year”, when the slower-paced summer comes to an end, and a new busier season starts to ramp up. In a way it’s another fresh start, with all new opportunities to be better neighbors in our communities and the world. Here are five ways to be a good neighbor this month.

1. Support Kids With Cancer: In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, get educated about what children and teens diagnosed with cancer and their families experience, and find out how you can help. According to The Truth 365, a volunteer organization that created a documentary and social media campaign to educate the public about pediatric cancer, more than 13,500 youth under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year. Of those, approximately 2,500 succumb to their cancer; the average age of a child who dies from cancer is 8. Most causes of pediatric cancer remain a mystery, and there is no known way to prevent it. Find out more by visiting The Truth 365. While there you can sign a petition demanding more funding for pediatric cancer research, or even donate money toward research. Or, check out and donate to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which also supports childhood cancer research. Another great way to stay on top of the issue and show support for Jacob Goeders, a Bay Area boy known as “The Leukemia Slayer”, and his family, is by “liking” his Facebook page. The family is posting items about childhood cancer all month.

2. Take a Week (or just a day) to Show You Care and Remember: Sept. 11 was declared a National Day of Service and Remembrance [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor Tagged With: Alex's Lemonade Stand, Cake-Off4Kids, Cake4Kids, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Culture of Peace Initiative, HandsOn Bay Area, International Day of Peace, Jacob Goeders, National Day of Service and Remembrance, National Good Neighbor Day, Oakland Peace Center, The Leukemia Slayer, The Truth 365, United Nations, United Way of the Bay Area, Week of Caring

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in August

August 1, 2012 By Pam Marino

Every month I highlight five ways to be a good neighbor either right where you live or in the community at large. Have any more suggestions to add? Share them in the comments section!

I’m also interested in hearing suggestions for future months. Feel free to contact me, or use our free community calendar listing.

1. Say “Aloha”: Enjoy the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands with both old and new friends at the 17th Annual San Francisco Bay Area Aloha Festival, August 4 and 5. The event is organized by the Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association, bringing together entertaining dancers, arts and crafts displays, island cuisine, kids’ activities, and much more. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Dr., San Mateo. Admission is free.

2. Spend a Night Out With Neighbors: Tuesday, Aug. 7, is the 29th Annual National Night Out, a community awareness campaign that stresses crime prevention, anti-crime activities, and the overall strengthening of neighborhood ties. Neighborhoods and cities all over the Bay Area are hosting activities from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The City of Cupertino is even hosting some pre-evening activities, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Target parking lot, 20745 Stevens Creek Blvd. Check the National Night Out map to see if your neighborhood is participating. At the very least you can leave your porch light on from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., or get a little more ambitious and invite your neighbors over for an impromptu gathering. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor Tagged With: American Red Cross, Be Kind to Humankind Week, Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor, Global Forgiveness Day, International Forgiveness Day, International Friendship Day, Kiss and Make Up Day, National Friendship Week, National Night Out, National Smile Week, One Brick Silicon Valley, Operation: Care and Comfort, Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association, San Francisco Bay Area Aloha Festival, San Jose Jazz, soldiers, Summerfest

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in July

July 2, 2012 By Pam Marino

Celebrate America’s independence by being a good neighbor this month! Here are five ways to give back to the community during July.

1) Party With Your Neighbors: If you’re home this Fourth of July plan an impromptu block party by inviting neighbors over for a barbecue or simple potluck. Or, find out what your city is doing to celebrate, and make a point of joining in the fun and getting to know more people from your community. For example, in Cupertino there’s a pancake breakfast, children’s parade, and concert in the park from 7 a.m. to noon at the Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Rd. Then in the evening there’s fireworks, with music and games from 6:45 until the big show starts at 9:30. Catch all the fun at either Creekside Park, 10455 Miller Ave., Hyde Middle School, 19325 Bollinger Rd., or Sedgwick Elementary, 19200 Phil Lane.

2) Sort Food for the Hungry: Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties has a brand new warehouse in San Jose to facilitate getting more food out to those who need it most as quickly as possible. The 75,000 square foot facility at 4001 N. First St., is called [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor Tagged With: Christmas in the Park, Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor, One Brick Silicon Valley, Our City Forest, Reach and Teach, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, volunteering

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in June

June 4, 2012 By Pam Marino

Time to kick off the summer with five ways to be a good neighbor in your community.

1) Duck!: The 5th annual Silicon Valley Duck Race is Sunday, June 10. The El Camino Hospital Foundation will launch 15,000 rubber ducks into Vasona Creek at Vasona Lake Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, as part of a fundraising race. You can adopt a duck for $5, a family of ducks for $25, a club for $50, and a flock for $100. The first five ducks that reach the finish line in Lake Vasona win prizes, and one duck may even win $1 million. The monies raised go to El Camino Hospital Los Gatos, a not-for-profit, acute-care, full service hospital that serves the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and San Jose. The race is accompanied by a festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lots of activities, food, information booths, and more.

2) Share Your Lunch: Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties is once again urging us to share our lunches with local children who are at risk to go hungry this summer. Officials estimate that one in five children need some sort of support through the summer months, when they don’t have access to free or subsidized school lunches. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Good Neighbor Tagged With: American Cancer Society, American Humane Society, Bark for Life, El Camino Hospital Foundation, Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor, Gay Pride Month, Humane, One Bark Community Dog Walk, One Brick Silicon Valley, pet adoptions, Relay for Life, San Francisco Pride, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Share Your Lunch, Silicon Valley Duck Race and Festival

Five Ways to Be a Good Neighbor in May

May 1, 2012 By Pam Marino

Every month we give you five ways to be a good neighbor. Consider them little nudges to break out of your routine and think and act positively outward toward the community around you. We love to hear your suggestions of how you’re being a good neighbor, so please leave a comment or contact us.

Here are five suggestions for May, 2012.

1. Ride a Bike!: May is National Bike Month; to celebrate there are events around the Bay Area and nationally to get more people out of their cars. Nationally, Bike to Work Week is happening May 14-18, culminating with National Bike to Work Day on the 18th. The inaugural National Bike to School Day is May 9, according to The League of American Cyclists. In San Francisco and other Bay Area communities the 18th annual Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 10. Bicyclist organizations all over the region are planning events that day, like special energizer stations along commuting routes. Consider joining in on the fun that day as a way to improve your health, the planet’s health, and interact with others in the community. You can also form a team of up to five people for the Team Bike Challenge or Company Bike Challenge, and rack up miles all month to earn points and potentially win prizes.

2. Be Kind to Animals: May 6-12 is Be Kind to Animals Week. The East Bay SPCA is sponsoring a photo contest for photos of “Kind Kids” posing with animals. The Humane Society of Silicon Valley is conducting a class on how to raise orphan kittens on Monday, May 7 (reservations required). They also have a class on Thursday, May 10, “Helping Homeless Cats and Your Community”, for people who want to find out more about how to help homeless kitties. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor Tagged With: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Be Kind to Animals Week, Bike to Work Day, community, East Bay SPCA, Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor, Golden Gate Bridge, Humane Society Silicon Valley, National Bike Month, National River Cleanup Day

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day

March 20, 2012 By Pam Marino

It’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day, the day that marks Mister Rogers’ birthday. It’s a big day in Pittsburgh, PA., where Rogers lived, but the day is catching on elsewhere as a time to do something nice for others in the spirit of his neighborliness. Wearing a sweater is an optional, but a fun part of the tradition.

Fred Rogers would have been 84 today. He died Feb. 27, 2003, of stomach cancer, less than two months after he served as grand marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade with Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby. Rogers made an impact on childrens television like few others. In his own soft spoken way he became America’s neighbor.

So “make the most of this beautiful day,” and wear your favorite sweater (and if so inclined, submit a photo of you in said sweater to The Fred Rogers Company). And make sure to do something neighborly for someone you encounter today.

You could be a neighbor to this website by encouraging your friends on Facebook to “like” our Facebook page, or your Twitter followers to follow our Twitter page. If you do either of those things by midnight tonight, you’ll be entered in a drawing for the book, The World According to Mister Rogers; Important Things to Remember.

Have a wonderful day, Neighbor.

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor Tagged With: Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers, neighborliness, The World According to Mister Rogers, Won't You Be My Neighbor Day

Enter to Win Our Mister Rogers Book Giveaway in Honor of ‘Neighbor’ Day

March 16, 2012 By Pam Marino

In honor of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Day on Tuesday, March 20—the day that marks Mister Rogers’ birthday—Good Neighbor Stories is giving away copies of The World According to Mister Rogers in a special drawing. We’re asking our readers to help us meet more neighbors by introducing friends to the website!

To be eligible to win a free copy of the Mister Rogers book you either need to ask your Facebook friends to “Like” Good Neighbor Stories, or ask your Twitter followers to follow our Twitter account. When you do either of those things between 8 a.m. PDST, Friday, March 16, and 12 midnight PDST, on Tuesday, March 20, your name will be entered into the drawing. You can increase your chances of winning by doing both. Don’t forget to tag us in your status update so we know you’ve promoted the site. We’ll pick two winners on Wednesday, March 21.

In the meantime, think about how to meet some new neighbors yourself this week as a way to remember America’s best neighbor ever.

Filed Under: Good Neighbor Tagged With: Fred Rogers, Good Neighbor Stories, Mister Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers, Won't You Be My Neighbor Day

Five Ways To Be A Good Neighbor In February

February 1, 2012 By Pam Marino

February is the month most famously known for a day of love. Why not spread the love throughout all 29 (Leap Year!) days? Here are five ways to be a good neighbor this month. If you think of more ways, tell us in the comments.

1. Get to Know Muslim Neighbors: Silicon Valley Reads recently kicked off its new campaign, “Muslim and American — Two Perspectives.” Every year Silicon Valley Reads chooses books for all of Silicon Valley to read together. This year organizers chose The Muslim Next Door; The Qur’an, the Media, and That Veil Thing by Sumbul Ali-Karamali, and The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson. A whole host of events are happening in February, all the way to the end of the campaign in April, including lectures, film showings, art exhibits, and small group discussions. Author Ali-Karamali will speak at two special events, 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5, at the Saratoga Library, and 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 12, at the India Community Center in Milpitas. She’ll also be speaking at other events around the valley through April. In all there are more than 100 events happening in conjunction with the reading program. For more information see the Silicon Valley Reads website. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Good Neighbor, Volunteering Tagged With: African American History Month, Audubon Society, Black History Month, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, De Anza College, Foothill College, Great Backyard Bird Count, make new friends, Make New Friends Day, Random Acts of Kindness Day, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Random Acts of Kindness Week, Silicon Valley Reads, Sumbul Ali-Karamali, The Butterfly Mosque, The Muslim Next Door

Introducing the Good Neighbor Stories 2013 Datebook

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in September

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in August

Five Ways to be a Good Neighbor in July

Five Ways to Be a Good Neighbor in May

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day

Enter to Win Our Mister Rogers Book Giveaway in Honor of ‘Neighbor’ Day

Five Ways To Be A Good Neighbor In February

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