“Just a quick note to thank Front Porch Forum for providing a great way for neighbors to connect. We were looking for a foosball table, someone responded through FPF, they were glad to have a family with younger kids have it, and our kids will be thrilled (but they don’t know yet — shhhh). We’ll be happy to pass along the table through FPF when our kids outgrow it. Thanks to both FPF and our generous neighbor.”
• Liz, Shelburne FPF
“My husband and I like to drive around the neighborhood on Christmas and deliver our leftover flowers to people who may be alone or lonely on the holiday. We would like our neighbors to please help us by giving us names and addresses of people who would appreciate a little pick-me-up. Please do not post them on the Forum for safety reasons. You can contact me at Victory Gardens. Thank you.”
• Linda, Jericho Front Porch Forum
“Hey neighbors! I live in the flats down by River Street and there is enough furniture cast outside to furnish a two-bedroom apartment! Mallett’s Bay corner has like 3 couches… drive a little way past Chick’s on River and you’ve got the abandoned lot with mattresses and tires. Then a little further down is a television that’s been there for weeks. Anyone have any idea why our code enforcement allows our city to look like this? Let’s have a little more pride of place! It’s really quite embarrassing when hosting visitors. Anyone want to organize a clean up? I don’t have a truck, but I just got a tetanus shot so I’m up for it! Maybe the city will reimburse our dump payment? Please contact me and let’s get this crap out of our streets!”
• Allyson, Winooski FPF
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease and I’m happy to report the mattresses and tires have been removed from the lot on River Street! I’m not sure who is responsible for the clean-up but I’d wager my calls, e-mails and Front Porch Forum discussion was a help to expedite the process! I’m so glad to live in a community where action is taken once the problem is addressed. Let’s stay engaged and keep our streets clean! Thank you to everyone who reached out in solidarity on this issue.”
• Allyson, Winooski FPF, a few days later
“I am trying to help out a brother and sister in their 70’s who live together in poverty in Morrisville. Their hot water heater just broke and they have no money to get another one. Does anyone happen to be replacing theirs or have one around that still works? I wanted to try to help them out. Thanks!”
• Lyndall, Stowe FPF, Day 1
“Great news – found a hot water heater… And am getting it installed with the financial help of a couple of anonymous angels from Stowe. My friends are thrilled – even though their pipes are now frozen! Great response to my plea! Thanks everyone who answered my post. That’s the way it is done in Vermont!”
• Lyndall, Stowe FPF, Day 2
“I got more help today from a Front Porch Forum member, and it turns out it was needed. The house needs insulation work before the heater goes in. County Plumbing and Heating went there today, unfroze the pipes, trouble shot the problem areas and brought over an entire bale of insulation! They only charged me about 1/2 price, but were there for 3 hours. So now I have a bigger project than I thought. I am going to also try to work with the state fuel assistance/weatherization program as well. The family already gets fuel assistance, but no one has helped them with the weatherization part, which is key. So, I have FPF angels to thank for the insulation work, the heater, and the installation work to come! Crossing my fingers. And my friends are amazed that their plea has been answered!”
• Lyndall, Stowe FPF, Day 3
“I am helping to support a 23 year old mom and her 1 year old son this Christmas. In addition to a few new items, I am trying to round out their wardrobes with some gently used items. Mom is looking for clothes to help her find work and has requested black pants, size 0. (A size I don’t think I ever wore!) Does anyone out there have any in good condition they’d like to pass on? Also casual business tops, size small. A slightly dressy coat? The baby wears 18 months clothes and could use both indoor and outdoor wear, socks, hat, boots, a few books. These items will be delivered at the end of this coming week. Thanks.”
• Kristen, Richmond Front Porch Forum
“Thank you to all the people who provided gently used clothes to help the young family in need of support this season. Both mom and baby now have some nice outfits, and thanks to a generous gift card donation, they will be able to choose other fun and helpful items. There was also help from Miscellany Mart and even a possible job suggestion.
“I want to thank the gentleman who was in front of me in line at Shaws yesterday around 4:20. You were so sweet and kind. In a time when people typically don’t bother talking to the stranger next to them in line, you did just the opposite. You truly encompassed the Christmas spirit. Thank you for that, and for the stamps you gave me. I wish you the very best in 2017. I promise to pay your kindness forward.”
• Melanie, Waterbury Front Porch Forum
“We recently moved and miss FPF so much! Thanks Front Porch Forum for being free and amazing! Please expand to Connecticut soon!”
• Heather, Shelburne FPF
Lost your pet? Need to sell or borrow something? Looking for service provider recommendations or starting your own small business and want to spread the word? Front Porch Forum (FPF) can help with all these things and more.
I recently moved to the NEK from central VT where FPF provided me a long daily listing of local information, neighbors needing or providing resources, free items, school and selectboard updates and more.
FPF is only as good as the people using it. To be a great resource, a healthy percentage of a town or towns’ residents need to join and use it.
We are lucky in Vermont to have this FREE resource available in every community!
In some communities as many as 90% of residents participate, but in Essex and Orleans County the average participation is less than 20%.
Because we are more rural and isolated than other parts of the state, having an active FPF is even more beneficial.
To join your local forum go to frontporchforum.com and sign up. It’s easy and you won’t regret it!
• Rhonda Shippee, Morgan, VT
“Thank you all that responded to my request for succulents. I got so many generous responses I have more than enough at the moment. We live in a cool town. Good job, Front Porch Forum.”
• Alicia, Charlotte FPF
“Thank you to all who jumped in with suggestions for someone to replace a parka zipper. I Think , with that list of possibilities, I’m all set 🙂 Isn’t FPF the absolute best!!”
• Betsy, Randolph FPF
“Thank you Montpelier: I had so much response to my request for the Alison Bechdel Seven Days issue, from people I knew and people I didn’t. Someone even wrapped and dropped a copy on my porch, a secret donor? Thank you so much for sharing with me, thank you Front Porch Forum. Found: a great community with a great forum.”
• Karen, Montpelier FPF
“We found a wonderful home for our cat, Frank. I feel very good about the young woman who has brought him to her home. Thank you Front Porch Forum!!!!! I love this community.”
• Jill, Calais FPF
“Thank you to everyone who responded to my inquiry about finding someone who could transfer old home movies (over 50 years old!) to DVDs. I found a wonderful gentleman in Plainfield who did a fantastic job and had super reasonable pricing. I am so excited to share the movies that none of my family has been able to view for many many years and one family member who has never seen them. What a gift!! Happy Holidays!”
• Pamela, Middlebury FPF
“Thank you so much to all those you responded to my quest for a MacBook Pro computer savvy helper. Hands down it is Melissa at Orchard Road Computers. She will be hearing from me shortly. FPF is such a great resource and much appreciated.”
• Margery, Charlotte FPF
“Thanks for all the lawnmowers! It looks like everyone had an old lawnmower but me! I really appreciate all your offers. I got what I needed. Thank you so much FPF people!”
• Pat, Middlesex FPF
“Dear friends – A few days ago, I posted on our Front Porch Forum asking if anyone might be willing to share some fresh sage leaves with us — Jasmine and I were making food for friends and I’d run out of fresh leaves. I thought maybe one or two folks might be willing to help.
“Fifteen of you replied — several within minutes — offering to share your abundance with us. I’m sure that several more FPF readers have been thinking “oh, I need to email that guy about the sage plant!”
“It was really touching to see people reaching out with practical help.
“I’ve been feeling pretty despondent about the polarization I’ve seen in our nation over the last months and, particularly, the last week. It’s clear that we have a lot of reaching out to do, and a lot of working to understand each other, if we’re to get through the next parts of our nation’s history.
“I believe that connections between real people are absolutely critical to finding consensus and building resilience, and that those connections thrive in an atmosphere where people share and help each other.
“Thank you, friends, for reminding me that I live in one of those places.”
• Hollis, Burlington neighborhood FPF
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