Local communities and businesses that use the newspaper advertising today are very smart thinkers, when bringing the masses together. Whether it be community or neighborhoods. The local news paper can be a good way to bring people together. Advertise a block wide yard sale. Have a community festival for all the neighbors, or simply have a pot luck supper at a drop in at your house. There are many easy ways to meet your neighbors. The one thing that people love to do is eat, and food brings people together for fellowship.
You see this type of togetherness in a lot of retirement neighborhoods. They get together to have card tournaments, different days of the week at different homes through out their neighborhood. It is safe clean fun to share interest in this way, and a great ice breaker to get to know your new neighbor. Those that build good relationships with their neighbors will have peace of mind knowing that their neighbors and friends keep a close eye on things while they are gone on trips, or are alone.
Common interest are the things that bring people together. Finding out these interest may be the hard part of bringing people together. In just about every neighborhood their will be a out going, out spoken person that will strike up a conversation with just about anyone on the block. Sharing gifts that are simple can be a good ice breaker to get to know someone that has moved into the neighborhood. A simple hello can size up whether a new neighbor is friendly and open. Many are shy to accept invitations with people that they do not know. If the people involved are willing to take the chance, it can provide good foundation building scenarios and open new avenues of interest between people.
Respect for your neighbors privacy also has to be taken into consideration. Being to pushy and taking no for an answer can make people retreat from gatherings. Just give the invitation and leave it up to the individual whether they want to come or not. Many communities have large street yard sales. Neighbors come to see out of curiosity to see what their neighbors are selling. Conversations arise from this and many friendships are made from the simple exchange of a used item.
Finding that critical time to have a get together can be tough to plan. Work and other events during the week can effect the planning of a community get-together. Having events close to holidays may not be wise to do, but if done respectfully it can be planned for all at a time that can be beneficial to all. The effort has to be there as well as the intention of the gathering.
Walking through your neighborhood for exercise can generate ways to meet your neighbors. The only way to meet people that live beside you is to get out of the house and be recognized. Introduce your self and let them know where you live on the block. Extend and invitation for them to come over at their convenience, but to call before they come over. If it has come to the point of giving your neighbor your phone number, then trust has been established.
Community watch programs that have neighborhood events are great ways in bringing people together. Web sites on local news web pages like http://communitycrimewatch.gov are very instrumental in making your neighborhood a safe. A safe neighborhood offers better living for all involved. A local fire chief offered a program that involved seniors. Free smoke detectors in their homes if the neighborhood would meet in one location, so the fire chief could explain it's operation. A elderly woman asked her niece to print out fliers, so she could put them in neighbors paper boxes when she took her evening walk. It was a great success and the elderly woman was recognized for her effort through the fire department and local news paper. It brought people together for a simple cause that benefited all.