5.29 Message From "The Link" - NeighborLink is Exciting If you don't already know.
There are all kinds of exciting opportunities and experiences awaiting when you get involved in NeighborLink. Even if you just get involved in Fort Wayne, there is no shortage of passionate people investing their lives in making our community a place to embrace as home.
Here are a few examples of opportunities through NeighborLink.
Projects:
Obviously, it’s what we do right? Help those who cannot accomplish tasks on their own with their homes. This is a blessing to them and it’s a blessing to your family. The potential experience you will have is waiting. I can’t fully describe it to you, I can only share with you when you tell me about it. With over 80 projects currently waiting for a Coach to take, there are no shortage of opportunities big or small to take on.
Food For The Fort
This is a new pilot initiative by the City and partnering organizations to use gardening to support our community’s food shortage and encourage healthy neighborhoods. The concept is based around raised bed community gardens. There are 3 locations supporting this initiative. Here is a link for more info from yesterday’s press conference.
1. Solomon Farms - City park that will be growing plots in which all produce will go to Community Harvest Food Bank
2. Refugee Resource Center - There are 24+ plots for Burmese refugee families who will be able to grow food for their families, their communities, and be able to sell via a farmers market. You can see this at the center on S Calhoun St. It’s a fenced in area.
3. Williams Woodland Park Neighborhood - This neighborhood is directly behind the Rialto Theatre on S Calhoun and will be an actual neighborhood who will design and manage these plots. Over 20 families have decided to participate & will build, manage, and distribute their produce via their own household, the neighborhood and food banks as they see fit.
NeighborLink will be assisting in getting the actual neighborhood up and going. Our hope is that we can learn from this experience this year and develop a plan to partner with Food For The Fort next year in other neighborhoods. We see this as another opportunity to facilitate neighborhood development and provide opportunties for neighbors to interact more with each other which will get each other to know one another and promote the sharing of excess produce with those who need it in their neighborhood. Watch for regular updates on this.
Workday Wednesdays
Starting in June, I will be implementing Workday Wednesdays, which are my commitment to the Available Projects projects list that I personally will devote a portion of the day each Wednesday to completing or working on a project. I will share the pictures and the stories each week.
My hope is each Wednesday, you’ll join me in service. Whether you actually come and serve with me on the projects I select or you will make some portion of Wednesday a day you serve as well.
Each week I’ll post in this email and AtTheLink.com where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing so you can join me if you can. On June 3rd, I’ll be mowing a yard. On June 10th, I’ll be helping a NL Coach install a new door for a recipient.
Intro To NeighborLink Events
Twice a month I will be hosting an Intro to NeighborLink event. One week night a month and a Saturday morning a month. I know in order for you to understand what we’re up to and how to get involved, I need to provide an open opportunity for you to learn more and ask questions. You can find the schedule for the next 2 months on our Calendar.
I know I’m leaving things out, but I hope that gives you some inspiring ideas to think about. There are no shortage of great activities that will not only entertain, but enhance your life. Not just any ordinary enhancement, but a Holy Spirit infused enhancement.
It’s as easy as completing a project and as hard as selecting a project.
Andrew
Be Courageous!
andrew@nlfw.org
260.710.7611
