Category Archives: social capital
Supporting community in the Vermont tradition
“I would like to add my support to FPF’s outreach for membership donations. Who doesn’t read it avidly every single time? Who has not felt an expanded and enriched sense of community through its pages? Front Porch Forum makes us into a family, one who gives and shares, asks and finds, communicates and discusses issues that concern us. How many of us have been given just what we needed for free, many times over? Whose desire for recommendations has not been fulfilled by some caring neighbor? Who has not experienced the gratification that comes of giving something no longer wanted to someone who desperately needs it? This rich experiment in active, compassionate community has changed us for the better. And I believe FPF deserves our active gratitude: that is, membership funds. They have asked for no specific amount. Just think of the money you haven’t spent because you got something for free! That money could circle back to the source. I am glad to be a Supporting Member of Front Porch Forum, and am infinitely grateful for the sense of belonging and communal friendship and care that it brings to me over and over again.”
• Tami, Montpelier FPF
“I read Front Porch Forum everyday and I post a few times a year. I just made an annual donation to support its existence. If you also read FPF, and particularly if you post on it, please make a donation so it will continue to provide the service we enjoy.”
• Rachel, Morrisville FPF
“I just became a supporting member of Front Porch Forum (again)! Front Porch Forum is one of the best values around for local information. It’s a great institution in the Vermont tradition, a homespun digital business providing great service to its neighbors. If you can, help out at http://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members. Spread the word to your neighbors to try out the forum. It’s a great way to build neighborhood community. And thanks to the great Front Porch Forum team for this great resource.”
• Gary, Colchester FPF
Invest in Your FPF… Become a Supporting Member Today
Hello FPF friends
If Front Porch Forum is useful to you, please take a minute to contribute today. Every October we ask folks to become Supporting Members. Today we kick off our 2016 campaign.
Contribute here (credit card, PayPal or check):
https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members
More than 125,000 Vermont households participate on their local FPFs. As you’ve seen, neighbors find lost pets, report break-ins, recommend electricians, organize block parties, and so much more. And each exchange among neighbors carries the promise of community building.
If you agree that FPF is something special, then please help keep it strong. We are a Vermont business, hosting FPFs in each of the state’s 251 towns. Our staff of 14 work seven days a week to deliver our service. Most of our operating expenses are covered through ad sales to Vermont businesses. Your Supporting Member contributions help cover the rest.
Contributions are voluntary. Any amount you can give brings us closer to our 2016 goal, and makes FPF vibrant in your community. If you value FPF, become a supporting member now and help us reach our $150,000 annual statewide goal: https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members
Many thanks from the FPF team!
Michael, Nina, Linda, Gisele, Jonna, Natanya, Christine, Carolyn, Kate, Suzie, Wendy, Jodi, Lynn and Jan
Front Porch Forum
Pay online, or mail a check to:
Front Porch Forum
PO Box 64781
Burlington, VT 05406-4781
P.S. FPF is not a charity and contributions are not tax deductible.
How do I love thee, let me count the ways
Huge shout out to Front Porch Forum. Over the years we have used it to:
- Borrow a neighbor’s ladder to reach higher up our cherry tree in exchange for some cherries
- Get a free dog crate to go pick up chickens and then pass on that free dog crate to a new home
- Know of bobcat or bear sightings in our neighborhood to close up the chicken coop
- Ross found a job
- Recommend and find great service providers (trash pick up, window washing, tree service, etc.)
- Get a heads-up on great upcoming community events
- This weekend David got a free bed for a previously homeless person setting up housing
It is such a great community resource. Win/win/win.
• Maureen, Charlotte FPF
Mother-in-law’s irreplaceable photos returned in Malletts Bay
“My mother-in-law set her camera down on the second bench over from the swing in the Bayside park in Malletts Bay around 11:00am Wednesday. She is here for the week and we would love to get that camera back for her! It’s full of family pictures that are not replaceable or printed out! If you have any information saw it or picked it up please let me know!”
• Colby, Colchester Front Porch Forum
“We got the lost camera back today! Thank you Derek for all of your help! She couldn’t be more thrilled to have those memories returned! Thank you thank you thank you!”
• Colby, Colchester FPF, next day
Amazed by Charlotte neighbors’ generosity
“As others have posted, I am amazed at the many responses to my request posted on our Front Porch Forum. So many wonderful people responded to my request to use a pick-up truck — and many stating ‘no charge, just helping a neighbor’ or simply ‘please pay it forward.’ I love this spirit of helping and cooperating with one another. We are so happy that we moved to Vermont two years ago. Thank you all — and you know who you are.”
• Lisa, Charlotte FPF
Farewell Essex… Hello Northeast Kingdom
“Since the beginning of this Front Porch Forum I have met many new friends and found things to do that I otherwise would not have known about. As of this weekend, I will no longer be on this Forum as I am moving to the Northeast Kingdom. It has been an enjoyable time, and it was wonderful meeting and interacting with everyone on here.”
• Donna, Rural Essex FPF
Random act of kindness in Montpelier
“This morning while in line to purchase a pound of coffee, we were the recipient of a random act of kindness. The driver ahead of us paid for our coffee. We just wanted to thank you for brightening what was a really sad day. It was a truly generous and kindly act. May something wonderful happen for you in return. We love Montpelier.”
• Susan, Montpelier Front Porch Forum
Overwhelmed with generosity of Morrisville neighbors
“I was overwhelmed by the generosity of Front Porch Forum folks willing to help with my carpentry needs. Many thanks to all who offered assistance. This is a prime example of what Vermont neighbors do best. The headboard has been successfully trimmed.”
• Bill, Morrisville FPF
Jett, the Essex cat (who doesn’t answer to his name), is home again
“Our three-year-
old totally black. slim-ish, cat has been missing for three days. His name is Jett, but he does not answer to that – he’s a cat. We’re missing him terribly and are hoping against hope that perhaps he got shut in someone’s garage by mistake.”
• Deedee, Essex Center FPF
“I’m happy to report that we have our black cat back, thanks to Front Porch Forum and some wonderful neighbors in Meadows Edge. We’re so grateful. We are remodeling… a lot of noise and strangers in and out. We think that is why he took off. Thanks again, everyone.”
• Deedee, Essex Center FPF, next day
Border-crossing Maltese rounded up in Stowe
“I just have to say how fortunate we are to have Front Porch Forum. This morning a distraught young man stopped in to say he is staying at a house near us. He is from Canada and doesn’t know the area. Their 5 lb. Maltese, Lily, ran off and had been gone all night. Tonight my husband read the Forum and there was a post for a found white dog… we were able to connect the two people and Lily is now safe at “home”. Thank you Front Porch Forum.”
• Nancy, Stowe 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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