Category Archives: Neighborhood
Staying locally connected while traveling
Planning to be out of the state over the holidays or even for the winter? FPF will continue to keep you connected while you’re gone!
“After being gone for more than 4 months, Front Porch Forum has kept me in touch. Found me a ride home from the train station in Waterbury, found me a car, mine died the day I left , and found me a possible roommate for the winter.. So great to have a local place to help all of us. AND I DID IT ALL FROM PORTUGAL AND SCOTLAND !!” • Rich in Fayston
Young people lend a hand to elderly neighbor
Sharing kindnesses on Front Porch Forum between neighbors!
“Recently, I had a wonderful experience. In the first quarter of my eighty-first year, I was out on my front lawn picking up debris left by the big wind. Two young people on bikes stopped wondering if I needed any help cleaning up. I was stunned. I questioned them and they both said they just wanted to help. They worked steadily and with good cheer. It took the three of us just under an hour to complete a task I estimated at three hours or more. If anyone on FPF knows the family, please let their parents know they should be very proud of these two great young people.” • Carl in Essex Junction
And, in response:
“Thank you so much for the beautiful note, what a lovely surprise. We are so happy to live in a community that appreciates the same values that we do! We are very proud of our kids and made sure to tell them!” • Travis and Crystal
Sold: Snow tires, chickens and more
Many people respond to posts for items on sale in their neighborhood FPF.
“Thanks Front Porch Forum for selling eight snow tires… four Subaru Outback and four Ford Escape.” • Linda and Norm
“I love how, on FPF, one person will post how they want a leaf vacuum machine and the next post will be a person selling his leaf vacuum machine! Thanks, FPF, for making it easy to find what we’re looking for! Isn’t it a great service?” • Lydia in Shelburne
“Without Front Porch Forum I couldn’t sell my chickens.”
• Janet in Danville
Use FPF to post about items you’re looking for, and you just might find them!
Kids, large and small, love Halloween!
One of Vermont’s high school principals took to posting on Front Porch Forum to remind us to support our neighborhood teens on Halloween.
“Waves of trick-or-treaters are welcomed in our neighborhoods; it’s just a special few days in this corner of the world. Many parents have (quickly?) gone from pulling children in wagons (and eating “their” candy) to wondering if their kids will “go out” this year for the last time (again!). I found this article to be brilliant and wanted to share it…I am aware that our town has always been kind to the hordes of young ghosts, goblins, zombies and ninjas while still also welcoming to the 1/2 costumed late adolescents who (perhaps like their parents) just don’t want to let go of a fun and carefree tradition.
As Principal I often find myself thankful for the empathy our community shows toward our teens, I know my students feel supported by the community. This is very important because let’s face it, it can be an intense time for our high school age youth; they may be writing their college essay, playing in a playoff game, and volunteering to raise awareness about domestic violence all while planning (or more likely not planning) their Halloween costumes.
Thanks for supporting these amazing young people — and let’s remember to watch out for the kids on the roads (be they large or small).
Happy Halloween!” • Patrick, Principal, South Burlington High School
Kitties experience adventure on their way home
“Thanks to FPF, Lola the Explorer has been found. It turns out that Lola made her way to a neighbors house during the rain the night before and, despite their cat allergies, they took her in. Moreover, they got food, a litterbox and even put flyers in the mailbox cluster at the bottom of our road to find the owner. Oh, and when the rain got heavy in the middle of the night and Lola was crying “meows” I learned that they held and pet her from 2am – 3am. I mean, who does that? Our community does, that’s who! People here are simply awesome and I’m so happy to have met a new neighbor albeit under unusual circumstances.” • Kristin in Stowe
“Thanks to Front Porch Forum the lost Kitten that we rescued earlier today was reunited with his family! Poor little guy had been gone since yesterday morning.” • April in Swanton
“An update that the tail-less kitten I posted about earlier has been rescued by another FPF member who lives in the vicinity and found him on their porch. So a happy ending and another successful FPF story. I’ll let them decide whether they post to find him a forever-home, or cave in and keep the little adventurer for themselves (as he seems to be winning them over).” • Scott in Bristol
Nudge, nudge…. Now’s the time
If you haven’t contributed to FPF’s Supporting Member Campaign, now’s the time! We have less than half way to go to reach our $150,000 goal.
“I just donated to Front Porch Forum because it is amazing! I have given away, gotten for free, bought things I need at much less expense, sold things at great prices, kept up with the neighborhood news… the list is long. FPF is an excellent resource for the community!” • Sharon in Montpelier
“I read Front Porch Forum every day to find out what is happening in town – what animal is lost, what will be discussed at the next Selectboard meeting, what social events are happening for kids, families and seniors, and who is giving away something that you just cannot live without! My day is not complete without FPF, and my life is certainly easier because I can find so many things I need on FPF. Please help out if you can and support this service that helps our town stay more connected.” • Marie in Richmond
Neighbors lend a hand across Vermont
Posting on Front Porch Forum to neighbors results in finding what you need!
“Judy answered our posting for a long ladder to do the painting of a 2 story garage behind my house. We were able to accomplish our goal and the garage is painted! Thanks to Judy and Front Porch Forum for getting us together.” • Frances in Barre
“If you ever need a pet sitter have no fear- there are plenty of qualified, animal loving entrepreneurs nearby. Also, kind neighbors willing to lend a hand. Just post to FPF!” • Caysie in Jericho
“I would like to thank everyone who offered a free cat carrier. The response was many and not expected. This Forum is great.” • Margaret in Middlebury
“Thank you all so much for the offers for a dorm fridge…..I found one! The responses were incredible…..SUCH AN AWESOME COMMUNITY and such an awesome resource FPF is.” • Michele in N. Fayston
Finding gratitude in the mail
We’re very thankful for the nice notes we’ve been receiving in the mail along with checks from FPF Supporting Members.
“My husband and I are new to Front Porch Forum and totally enjoy receiving our updates every day. It really makes us feel connected to our lovely community.” • Bernadette in Charlotte
“Thanks to Front Porch Forum rural life is so much easier. It’s all about the community connections, and FPF is the place to start, no matter what you are trying to find, fix, or do.” • Nancy in Tunbridge
“Thank you for such a great means to stay connected to our community. As seniors, we do use FPF to get household and garden help!” • Bill and Anastasia in Middlesex
“Have sold things, given things away, have gotten help finding local services – wonderful way to connect with my local community.” • Janice in Shaftsbury
Help us reach our ambitious fundraising goal and contribute to FPF’s Supporting Member Campaign today to keep this important free service coming to your community.
Experiencing kindness at the beach
A Front Porch Forum member expresses gratitude after posting about the loss of her shoes at the beach.
“An amazingly grateful update on my missing shoes that I posted yesterday. I went back to the beach today and found my shoes in a bag with a nice note! Many thanks to the person who made my day! I very much appreciate your humble return. Today, at the beach, I also met a man who was pleased to see that the extended beach area is still as clean as when he took it upon himself to clean it last season. And one more kindness; a woman stopped by my car to see if I needed help taking my board off the rack. Three kindnesses today that I was a part of. It would be great if every day each of us could be a party to the generosity of others and also give some kindness away. Thank you all!” • Nancy in Shelburne
Thanks for helpful, kind neighbors
Front Porch Forum members can often be counted on to help their neighbors in need…..
“Thank you to our neighborhood for helping mow our lawn while we are at the hospital all day with our son. There is a lot in the news about the divisions in this country and a tiny fraction of individuals with hatred in their hearts. But overwhelmingly, we are living in a community of people who are good, and helpful and kind. This is just one example. Thank you to my dear neighbors and community” • Matt in Williston
Generosity from others helps confirm the value of nurturing community relationships. Reach out to your neighbors with FPF.
About Blog
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
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