Since the start of the shelter-in-place orders, my wife, Katie, and I started a new weekly practice to serve our neighbors. We are a family with young kids, so we wanted to reach out to other families with young kids that may be having similar experiences as us during this time. As we contemplated different ways we could serve others, we thought about the things that we wanted or needed. We realized that if our kids would enjoy something then our neighbor's kids would probably enjoy it as well. On my days off, we shop for our weekly supplies and food, and we will usually pick up a game, craft, or toy for our kids to play with that week. We decided that whatever we buy for our kids, we would also buy for another family’s kids that week. Sometimes if I have more time, I'll call the parents and ask if they need a couple essential items like eggs or milk.
What is great about this practice is it does not cost a lot of money to pick up a few items for our neighbors, but it is a thoughtful way to show them we care. A few weeks ago in our Seabreeze Kids online content, our kids learned the importance of being an “Other’s First Family” and not a “Me First Family”. Having this weekly practice has been a great reminder for our kids on how to practically think of others first. It has also been rewarding to see how excited and genuinely grateful our neighbors are.
I encourage you to think through the needs and wants of your neighbors and show them you care by putting together a care package for them. You may be surprised how a few simple items could make their day.
