by Bridget Webber

Created on: March 19, 2009   Last Updated: June 07, 2009

In days gone by communities used to be so small that everyone knew when people were suffering from financial hardship. When times were difficult for your neighbors in those days, you would probably be one of many people who automatically offered your assistance in some shape or form. Unlike today, they probably would have accepted and not felt awkward about it. Their lack of embarrassment would be partly due to the fact that communities worked more as a unit and they wouldn't have been strangers to assisting others themselves.

Things are different in most places today. Often neighbors don't really get to know one another and make do with a simple 'hello' as they rush off out of the house on their way to somewhere they are in a hurry to get to. Because of this it can be more difficult to help them when they are in need financially. When they are struggling you may notice, but because you don't know them well it can be hard to ascertain how to offer assistance in such a way that they can accept your help without feeling insulted.

Community

Encouraging your neighbors to get involved in whats going on in the community can help them in several important ways. In the first instance it gets them out in the open where they are going to meet lots of new people who can be supportive. When you are in trouble the worst thing that you can do is to isolate yourself and cut yourself off from potential helpful people and situations. The more friends you make the more likely you are to accept help from one or more of them. The types of community activities that may be helpful are described below.

Recycling/Swapping Parties

Recycling and swapping parties are a great way of helping another person who is finding it hard to make ends meet because it allows them to participate equally with others, without singling them out and embarrassing them.

School uniforms which children have grown out of, school books, kitchen items, clothing and other household items can all come in useful for a family who hasn't got money to spare.

Community garden Projects

Not only are such projects fun and provide people with close friendships but they are tremendously practical too. By encouraging your neighbors to join in they will benefit from learning from other experienced gardeners, be able to grow much of their own food at far less cost than shop bought food and will be automatically given other gardeners extra seedlings and produce that they grew too much of. Whats great about this is that

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