This picture and the story that could be told by looking at it reminds me of why I chose to do what I do.

This is Violet’s garage. Violet is an aging senior in her 70’s who is widowed and has children that live in Columbus, OH and in Atlanta, GA. She’s lived in this house since Oct 1960. She’s one of only two people that are still the original people from that timeframe in the neighborhood. They’ve seen tremendous change in their neighborhood. They have tremendous pride for their neighborhood.

Violet got referred to NeighborLink and called me seeking assistance. She didn’t need much, just some help with some interior cleaning that she no longer could do on her own and had a wish to have the inside of her garage have a wallcovering over the insulation. Drywall, peg board, it didn’t matter.

Just like I do with every other request, I take her information and post it by project on the website making it available to volunteers. Not too long after posting, a friend of mine takes both projects and finds volunteers for them and begins figuring out how to help. Back in Feb, he mobilized a group of women to help with cleaning, which got done.

As this friend begin thinking about the wall covering, he remembered that I had received a large amount of drywall for free and I had a lot left over from the work that I did at my own house. He asked if he could use it for this project, In which I said absolutely.

So, last night we load it up and deliver it to Violet. She was so appreciative and we were glad to help and glad to have the remainder go to her for her project. Her being appreciative wasn’t what got me, even though it was nice to hear. She began to tell us the story about how the insulation got put up.

She told us that as she began interacting with a new neighbor and commenting how nice the renovations to their new home were looking, a relationship was forming. Nothing too crazy, just her commenting and saying hello and sharing brief comments. As she was discussing with them how nice their house was looking she made a random comment about how she’d like to insulate her garage someday but it wasn’t that big of a deal. The guy, who she hadn’t even got his name yet, said that he’d do it for her.

So, a few weeks pass and the neighbor guy follows up with her and said if you pay for the materials, I’ll pick it up and do it for you. She took him up on it and a few hours later it was done.

I was so charged by last night. Spending time with my friend. Sharing what’s going on in our lives. Giving away something I didn’t need anymore to someone that did need it. Hearing what goes on in neighborhoods when we care about each other enough to even say hello or have an awkward conversation.

I believe we don’t care for our neighbors because we’re afraid. Afraid that it will be weird because we should know each other but since we’ve never made an effort that they other will think bad thoughts about us. So, we continue keeping to ourselves. It’s just one theory I have. I’m sure you have your own.

I hope you find inpiration in this picture as much as I do.