A Spark of Hope

(Originally Published January 17, 2022)


Over the past several months, the way we relate to one another has changed in a fundamental way. Personally, I found myself wanting to help my neighbors, but I wasn’t sure what that would look like or how to do so in a meaningful or safe manner. I didn’t have a connection to them or their needs, as I was new in the neighborhood. I wanted to share my resources (insert joke about toilet paper here) but didn’t know if that was the greatest need. One thing I did note was that the Little Free Library in front of our office was getting used more frequently, and people were taking more items than they had before. This sparked something for me, as it was a tangible thing people would use. So we got soap and sanitizer for the Little Box and it quickly disappeared. I sewed dozens of masks to put in there. They disappeared. And that meant people were using them! The things I was doing to support my neighbors were also supporting me and keeping me safe. We were all benefiting from the Little Box. The give-and-take nature of these spaces provides mutual aid that, in turn, is changing the community. As I shared this experience with others, a neighboring church got on board and built a Little Library as well. And then a business did. And then another church! And now six new Libraries/Little Pantries have been built in our community over the past year.   

Seeing that spark of inspiration and energy has fundamentally changed my view of the community for the better. There is a recognizable reciprocity in how neighbors relate to one another. Many times, I have heard that people want to help their neighbors but aren’t sure where or how to start, and sharing this small idea of mutual aid was done simply by listening to and fostering an idea. We were not the first to build a Blessing Box and certainly won’t be the last. The beautiful thing about our work at Peace Connections is that it must be shared; we are all part of the story. This work in creating a community is not something we can do alone. We love being able to encourage people, offer the tools to equip others and highlight the work you set off to do. If you are reading this and want to share your own story, please drop us a line! Where is your spark of inspiration? How have you been investing in your neighborhood? Help us put an ear to the ground and let us know how you are building up your community. We want to celebrate alongside you. At the start of this New Year, we encourage you to take steps (big and little) to invest in your community wherever you can find that spark. Whether it be waving to your neighbor, building a Little Library to share your favorite books, or going a bit deeper and getting to know someone by volunteering at Circle of Hope or hanging out with kids at SEAK. We invite you to share your experiences, as they might just inspire someone else to join you. We hope to hear from you.


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