“We read of acts of spontaneous kindness. Those instances leave me thinking how thankful they made the recipient. Well, a beautiful, kind soul with the most wonderful smile turned to me on the checkout line at the grocery store in Williston this afternoon and handed me a bouquet of flowers.
“Me? Who me? ‘Yes.’ I confess to tears bubbling just short of overflow, for so many reasons. I offered my thanks and hurried to my car.
“Those were the most wonderful few minutes of my day, of many days. Please know I hope and pray to be able to come close to mirroring this act of kindness one day.
“Many, many thanks, they are truly the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen!”
• Lisa, Richmond Front Porch Forum
“The United Way of Lamoille County has firewood available for a family in need in Belvidere, Vermont. We unfortunately do not have a truck, and are looking for anyone willing to donate their time and vehicle to deliver some. Please call if you can help. Thank you!”
• Jim, Morrisville Front Porch Forum
“Thank you for the help. We were able to get a cord of firewood out on Saturday morning! Thank you for all the suggestions and new connections for help with delivery in the future. We are truly lucky to have such a generous community!”
• Jim, Morrisville FPF, a few days later
Need volunteers? Ask neighbors on your Front Porch Forum.
“Just wanted to send out a quick PSA and let everyone know that there is apparently a ski/snowboard thief going around to most of the local resorts (Sugarbush, Smugg’s, Bolton, Stowe). My skis and poles were stolen last night from Bolton and the desk employee informed me there have been about 5-10 other reports just in the last 2 days. Please be cautious and lock/watch your things!”
• Jenessa, Richmond Front Porch Forum
Has your gear been stolen this season? Pitch in by telling your neighbors on FPF.
“While some of you on this inaugural day (Jan. 20) might be mourning some kind of national tragedy, I’m most distraught by what my son told me: The breakfast waffle treat his class earned through safe, kind, responsible acts was served with… [deep breath, gather myself]…
Log Cabin syrup.
“While I appreciate our local education system maintaining fiscal responsibility, I think I speak for the entire universe when I say… let’s not be savages.”
• Lance, Westford Front Porch Forum
“I am wondering if other people are having this problem at home with their Xfinity WiFi. I choose my secure, private, password-encrypted non-Xfinity WiFi signal to work on my laptop and I am constantly thrown off my secure signal by Xfinity’s unsecured WiFi signal, which usually never allows me any connectivity.”
• Stephen, Montpelier FPF
“How wonderful is Front Porch Forum anyway!!?? I had seven great neighbors reply with all the information I needed to fix the problem!! Thanks to you all!”
• Stephen, Montpelier FPF, later same day
And a postscript from Stephen…
“Thanks again to so many who helped me. And to so many who are having the same problem, I offer what worked for me in my home in Montpelier. Be aware this worked for my MacBookPro (and I did the same thing on my iMac at my office just in case). I don’t know how this process works on PCs but maybe someone else does.
“A few weeks ago I posted on our Front Porch Forum seeking recommendations for XC boots in our area, and several people wrote to say Onion River Sports was the place to go. So we went there and, sure enough, my sister found the perfect boots. The salesperson patiently helped her get fitted properly, and, after years of XC skiing, she says these are the best boots she’s ever had. Yay for Onion River Sports and FPF posters. Thanks again!”
• Kathy, East Montpelier FPF
What’s your question? Ask neighbors on your FPF and shop local!
“I would like to start a Farmers Market catering to Belvidere and the surrounding area this summer. I am looking for volunteers to help. Those who volunteer would have a free space for the season. I am also, of course, looking for a space. So if you have a field or large parking lot that could be used, please contact me. I’m looking to start in June. If you can help, please contact me.”
• Jill, Cambridge Front Porch Forum
Many farmers markets have used FPF to get organized and launched in Vermont. How about one in your town?
“Thanks to a kind-hearted neighbor, our snow tube was FOUND! It traveled about 1/2 a mile and crossed Battle Row, but our neighbor kept it safe for us. Front Porch Forum helped us get the word out about it being lost, so we’re thankful for FPF too. Gotta love Hyde Park! Thanks, Fred.”
• Jon and Deb, Hyde Park FPF
“I received a large number of responses to my ‘looking for a house’ posting. I am in the process of reading each one and plan on thanking the senders individually. But in case someone falls through the cracks of my responding, I want to offer this public THANK YOU. I love how responsive and supportive the community is. It’s things like this — along with reading about a person losing her credit card AND someone turning that same credit card into the police station in that same FPF issue — that make me glad to be a Vermonter, where good neighbors are the rule rather than the exception.”
• JD, Montpelier FPF
“One year ago, a group of community members answered a posting on Front Porch Forum and got together to discuss establishing an organization to promote economic and community development in Northfield. The Northfield Community Development Network (NCDN) is celebrating its first birthday — and wants to update our community on everything we’ve been working on over the past year… Please join us at our upcoming event…”
• Lindsay, Northfield Front Porch Forum
Active citizens make the difference in many Vermont community. Use your local FPF to organize like they did in Northfield!
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more