Community Impact Highlights

Neighboring is an asset and placed-based approach to volunteering that empowers residents to find innovative, sustainable solutions to local challenges. Over the last five years, our affiliate network has brought Neighboring to low income, immigrant, refugee, Native American, African American, kinship and Hispanic communities. Tens of thousands of resident volunteers have been engaged to create programs such as a community garden to provide fresh produce to low income community members, a neighborhood watch to tackle problems of drug abuse, a mobile volunteer tax assistance site on a Native American reservation to provide an avenue toward financial stability, and many more programs to meet the needs and talents of the community.

One example of the success of Neighboring due to community investment is in Bradenton, Fla. where Hands On Manatee saw a 67 percent increase in application for Florida Healthy Kids Insurance in targeted neighborhoods and a 32 percent call volume increase to 2-1-1 among residents of targeted neighborhoods as a result of volunteers being mobilized from within the community to increase awareness around available social services. A 2009 Points of Light study found Neighboring:

• Helps create stronger communities and families
• Provides more resources for children and youth
• Creates role models for children
• Changes the lines of accountability
• Supplies local leaders
• Helps to promote workforce participation
• Improves relationships and connections between community members, creating mutually supportive exchanges