7 Ways To Pay It Forward If You Want To Strengthen Your Community Ties

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Smiling woman delivering a bag of groceries to a senior at home as a way to pay it forward

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People who live in small towns are happier than those in big cities, according to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research. But what are you supposed to do with that information if your entire life is structured around being in the city? Hold tight: there is actionable information from this report that anybody living anywhere can use.

The main reason people in smaller towns feel happier is this: a sense of community. Small town residents feel a sense of connection to their neighbors. And you don’t have to give up the skyscrapers and big city lights to feel that connection. You just need to work a little harder to find it in the city. And the best way to do that fits perfectly into MADAMENOIRE’s series honoring National Gratitude Month. In this series, we’re talking about ways to pay it forward in every area of your life, and doing just that with your neighbors is the perfect way to start to form connections. Here are ways you can get started today so that your neighbors can finally start to feel like actual neighbors– instead of strangers you park next to.

Run Errands For Someone Who Can’t

Woman in a face mask delivering groceries to a senior woman's home

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If you have a neighbor who is elderly and living alone or someone who, for some other reasons, running simple errands is a big challenge for, step in. Check on them once a week and see if they need you to grab anything from the store for them. Perhaps they need help fixing something around their home. Take note of your neighbors who might need assistance just handling basic everyday tasks and be of service.

Pet Sit For Free

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Perhaps one neighbor pays for daycare for their pet when they go to work or travel. If you work from home or are flexible with time, maybe you can help watch the pet or take it for walks – it would bring joy into your day and provide financial relief to your neighbor.

Throw A “Block Warming” Party

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You can schedule this around a festive time of year like Thanksgiving. Go all out with your decorations. If you have an outdoor space, be the house that is a little bit extra with the festive décor. You know how special it is when one house puts on an incredible Halloween or Easter display. It puts a smile on everyone’s face. So decorate, make some snacks, put out some beverages, and host a block warming party. People can come and go throughout the day. It’s a chance for you to get to know your neighbors, and a chance for them to get to know each other.

Call The City

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Has there been a major pothole in the road for months? Or a streetlight that’s gone out? Maybe someone sprayed graffiti on a stop sign and now people don’t see it. Everyone walks by these problems every day assuming somebody else will fix them. Be that person. Call the city. Send the letters and emails. Go to the appropriate council in person and make the request. Play a small part in making your neighborhood safer.

Hire A Neighbor

Hispanic male Electrician engineer installer with a tool in his hands. Young black woman couple Maintenance service Repair and handyman concept

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Have you noticed handmade signs up in your neighborhood for someone offering handyman, dog walking, or holiday light-hanging services? Hire a neighbor looking for extra cash instead of a large business with hundreds of employees. You can help a neighbor out, and get to know them in the process.

Share Your Parking Space

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If you have a parking space that you don’t use and live somewhere where parking is scarce, share your parking spot. If your neighbors are having a get-together and guests need somewhere to park, offer up your spot. If you see a neighbor who doesn’t have a spot and circles nightly, looking for street parking, give them your spot. It’s a free gesture on your end but means so much to the person without a parking spot.

Teach A Skill To Your Neighbors

Young women with man planting potted plants on rooftop

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If you possess a skill that you think your neighbors would benefit from knowing, put on a free workshop. Maybe you can teach self-defense, a second language, baking, gardening or any other skill that would enhance the lives of your neighbors. It doesn’t have to be a lucrative or life-saving skill – it could just be something fun that could be a hobby. It’s a chance for neighbors to come together and for you to provide a free workshop that people would otherwise have to pay for.