Category Archives: social capital
The Proverbial Wishing Well
Front Porch Forum is a place where neighbors can come together to discuss anything from local happenings to lost and found items. As this FPF member shares, don’t be afraid to check with your neighbors if you need help with something!
“…even as organizations, we still often find ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when communicating what we have or what we need with others; sometimes we don’t want to bug other organizations, and sometimes we worry by offering something, we’ll get ourselves in trouble.
One of the most powerful things about FPF is that it offers a comfortable place for folks to cast out requests to the community — I’ve never heard of anyone get ridiculed for casting hope by dropping their two cents — and when they do, it becomes a lot easier for folks like me to try and help. Some of us are good at making masks, some are good at fixing laptops, some are good at organizing shopping trips for our immunocompromised neighbors — but knowing is half the battle.
Please don’t hesitate to cast a coin into our proverbial wishing well! The community is here to hear you out. Whether you need something or whether you know that your organization needs something, it’s never selfish to ask and see what’s available, especially since more aid could be provided through our community if more people hear more specialized requests. (E.g.: I can’t justify gearing up to go unpack trucks at a food bank, but I know if I spend that time working instead on laptops, the community can get more utility out of it — if only I know who needs them.)” • Martin in South Burlington, Vt.
Cast your coin into the proverbial wishing well today on FPF!
FPF’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis
Here’s an update on FPF’s situation as the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold for all of us. The big picture:
- FPF usage is up across the state
- Our team is solid and working hard
- We’ve stabilized our short-term finances
- We are innovating on many fronts to strengthen local communities
FPF usage is up across the state. Vermonters are making more use of FPF during the pandemic than ever before. Posting volume is up 42% and new-member sign-ups are up 83% compared to the same period last year. We are seeing many different ways that neighbors are using FPF for crisis response, including:
- Neighbor helping neighbor: Many requests for help being made and fulfilled
- Community organizing: People using FPF to organize mutual aid and services of all kinds
- Information sharing: Public officials, healthcare facilities, and others disseminating essential information
- Staying connected: Combating isolation during this time of social distancing
We’ve stabilized our short-term finances. While the future remains uncertain, we now are confident that FPF will weather the crisis intact. Steps taken include:
- Austerity measures: We cut and delayed spending aggressively starting March 1.
- Sales revenue: We’ve worked intently with our small-business advertisers to help them with their goals while staying affordable.
- Member donations: We’re grateful for a tremendous response to our brief request for donations from our members in late March.
- SBA loans: We have applied for SBA loans and are awaiting news.
Our team is solid and working hard. In response to the health and economic crisis, we have made several changes to both our operations and our service:
- Protecting FPF staff: We closed our central office and switched to 100% remote work. Additionally, we have been able to avoid layoffs and pay cuts.
- Keeping Vermonters informed: We created new features in our software to make it easier for our members to find coronavirus-related information. We also removed posting limits for government officials, hospitals and social services regarding crisis-related messages. And we are aggressively screening out misinformation related to coronavirus.
- Facilitating neighbor-helping-neighbor: We continually are taking steps to reach more Vermonters and to encourage mutual aid-type postings. We also are in conversation with groups across the state that are working to increase volunteer efforts.
- Helping small businesses and nonprofits: We dropped our advertising prices by 38% across the board. We removed monthly posting limits for any messages related to the crisis, including changes to business hours, delivery services, etc. We are promoting “buy local” to our 180,000 members.
- Building social capital and community resiliency: We built a new feature to frequently promote examples of neighbor connection to all our members during this time of social isolation.
We are innovating on many fronts. Looking forward past the crisis-response stage to the recovery phase, FPF will focus on making Vermont communities ever more resilient by:
- Building social capital among neighbors: Helping neighbors connect and build community will remain the heart of FPF’s work.
- Strengthening local economies: We will support the 10,000 small businesses that participate on FPF by enhancing their connection with customers.
- Supporting local social safety nets: We will continue to work with grassroots mutual-aid efforts, nonprofits, and government agencies to strengthen supports in every community across the state.
- Enhancing civic engagement and local democracy: We are developing additional ways for Vermonters to become more involved in the civic life of their local communities. We are also exploring options for giving public officials new tools to engage with neighbors post-crisis.
- Elevating local journalism: We will expand our efforts with local news publishers to bring their work to a larger audience and enhance their viability.
- Strengthening FPF: We aim to make FPF stronger as we move forward through growth, product innovation, tech resiliency enhancements, creative partnerships, and more.
As a Vermont Public Benefit Corporation, FPF’s goal is to help Vermonters stay connected and build community throughout this crisis and beyond. We welcome feedback and ideas about how FPF can be of service in this time of need.
Planting signs of hope
To share a little joy among neighbors, several FPF members report planting yard signs of hope for all to see. Signs have been spotted in front of houses, apartment buildings and nursing homes.
“A community-wide, grassroots project called “Planting Signs of Hope” has been born. Its intentions are to lift spirits, create a sense of connectedness and bring color and life back to our downtown (and beyond) by “planting” as many positive messages around Johnson as possible. Who knows? Perhaps others will be inspired to do the same in their neighborhoods and communities! If you are interested in painting and planting a sign of your own, but don’t have the materials, email me. Otherwise, happy painting and planting- can’t wait to see your signs “popping up” around town!” • Kyle in Johnson
“Smile More-Worry Less” “Vermont Strong” “Inhale Courage-Exhale Fear” “You are Loved”! Thank you to the person who created the loving inspiration along the road side. I don’t typically walk that road but like so many of us, I too am walking a lot more and in new places. Your gifts helped brighten my spirits. My friends loved seeing the photos I took of the colorful kindness stones. I look forward to my return walk! We so need more and more kindness! Happily, I also met a new neighbor while walking. Grateful.” • Sherry in Hinesburg
“Please consider posting a thank you/appreciation for the healthcare and first providers in your yard acknowledging these awesome individuals. A great family project!” • Dan & Amy in Burlington
“As a local art teacher, I created a positivity poster of my own to inspire my students and I have hung it in my window. We are all cooped up inside, let’s get that creativity flowing. If you have kids out of school, make it a fun, creative family activity. Then put your artwork in your window and doorway. As more and more people are walking through our neighborhoods, let spread some happiness and positivity!” • Kayla in Waterbury
Neighbors celebrate Poetry Month
April is Poetry Month! And FPF members have been writing or sharing favorite poems with their neighbors. One neighborhood in Middlebury even went so far as to write Haikus in chalk along sidewalks! 
Also Highly Contagious Is:
Kindness, Patience, Love, Enthusiasm
and a Positive Attitude…
Don’t wait to catch it from others,
Be the carrier. • Lynn in Barre
A limerick from Betty in Randolph:
The pandemic is certainly grave
We are told to stay home and behave
We’re all being good.
You KNOW that we would!
Thus the Forum’s become quite the rave!
The chefs, be they local or not,
Should certainly not be forgot!
Food at the curb
Is really superb. • Sally in Randolph
A haiku from Kelly & Brooke in Stowe:
In this crazy time
FPF keeps us abreast
Of all local news
Dreaming
by Janet in Randolph Center
The snow’s almost melted away!
Yet at home it seems we must stay.
But flowers WILL bloom
And birdies WILL croon
And keep this scourge away.
The snow’s almost melted away!
Yet at home it seems we must stay.
But flowers WILL bloom
And birdies WILL croon
And bring a bright new day.
A Little Humor During Hard Times
As our communities are adjusting to follow health guidelines and practice social distancing and self isolation measures, FPF members are sharing the positives. Here’s a great idea for finding the fun and the humor in our new and emerging routines:
“I suggest a fun “contest” similar to the 5-words thing as an amusement during our self isolation: Unanticipated consequences of self-isolation.
To get the ball rolling, I offer three:
- Skinny dogs (lots of extra walks)
- More people with long hair or bad haircuts (no salons/barber shops)
- Exponential increase in family counseling (via Zoom of course) due to long-term sharing of close-quarters.
I imagine there are many, many more.” • Don M. in Burlington, Vt.
Have you experienced any funny or positive unanticipated consequences of social distancing? Join in the fun and share them on your Front Porch Forum today!
Going on a Bear Hunt
“This just makes me so happy. My @frontporchforum has never seen this much action.” • Whitney in Burlington
Front Porch Forum members are creating local scavenger hunts. The popular “Bear Hunt” is fun for kids. Neighbors put teddy bears (and other stuffed animals) in their own windows for children to spot when they walk or ride around their neighborhoods.
“Would folks like to create a bear hunt? We will definitely have some bears in our windows and are curious if other neighbors would like to join in the “hunt”. Members of a number of communities across the globe are placing teddy bears and other stuffed animals in their homes’ windows to create a scavenger hunt-esque activity for kids who are stuck at home. While taking walks or drives around the neighborhood with their parents, kids in participating communities can have some fun by keeping an eye out for any number of stuffed animals that have been put on display at other houses.” • Judy in Burlington
Start one in your neighborhood with a post on FPF!
FPF celebrates two decades of service
Sunday, March 29, 2020, marked the 20th year of Front Porch Forum providing a means for helping neighbors connect. It’s been our mission ever since and it’s never felt more meaningful than now. Here’s how one of those first FPF members from Burlington’s Five Sisters neighborhood reacted:
“Look what I got in the mail today.
You opened this Front Porch Forum account 20 years ago TODAY. Happy anniversary! Thank you for being an important part of connecting neighbors and building community.
Impossible to have lived life without FPF! I have found help with my biz… I have an annual Caroling with Carolyn on Caroline St. and people from all over the neighborhood join us each December. New wonderful friendships have developed because of FPF. We are all so lucky to have this incredible resource.”
• Carolyn in Burlington
Give applause to the un-sung heroes
Young and old are getting out to the porch or curb to sound their gratitude for all the people out there working so we can stay safely at home!
“…let’s keep this pot-banging WEIRD, WONDERFUL, and WIDE. Last evening’s pot banging sounded pretty darn good in my neighborhood. Kids and adults in 8 houses on my street banged and drummed for 1 joyful connecting minute. I could also hear the sounds from other places that I couldn’t see.
Get creative. At 6 p.m. on my street, in addition to our pots, one fellow bangs on his wheelbarrow, a lady creates a tempo with her drum, there is mail box banging, and kids use pot lids as cymbals!
Forward news about this…how far can it reach?
Also consider a donation to Front Porch Forum in gratitude for the way it lets us easily connect during this time.” • Jan in Shelburne
Organize a pot-banging, joyful sound session in your neighborhood with a post on your FPF.
Sharing is Caring!
Supply shortages and photos of bare shelves have been all over the news and social media platforms over the last couple of weeks. Many Front Porch Forum members have taken to their neighborhood forums to share what they can with neighbors in need of this and that. See some inspiring and generous posts below!
“I appreciate so much all the offers to help in our community. Please try to use the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund and our Food Shelf as central well-connected mechanisms to help the most people. Another way to help is by buying gift certificates for businesses that are likely to have to close or slow down (though recognize that just spreads out the loss of business). I’d suggest if you are in a position to tip heavily to your local and beloved businesses as appropriate, please do. They have been there for our community, and they are entering a time of massive uncertainty. Another way to help is to donate blood. Most organized blood drives will be closed for concerns of congregating too many folks. If you are healthy (and bored), and can make your way to a donation center, that will be super helpful to our medical system as this pandemic progresses. Covid patients don’t usually need blood products but we will still see the baseline cases of trauma, etc that will need blood and with drives closed we will run out quickly. Science/math-based models suggest this virus will be hitting peak numbers in VT during May/June. We have a little time to get ready. Please settle in for the marathon ahead. I’d welcome any 1000 piece plus puzzles folks have to share! :)” • Amy O. in Waterbury, Vt.
“Been having fun making tiny bottles of hand sanitizer. For those days when you’re out and about and can’t get easily to a sink and soap. Have placed some in a basket on my front stoop. When the weather is fair-ish. Please feel free to take one.
I’m using 90% alcohol that dilutes down a bit when mixed with aloe vera gel, but still should be super strong. Hand sanitizer kills the virus but doesn’t wash it away. Soap and water are still best for that.
If you have any small bottles, ie the travel sizes, that’s the choke point in the Sue’s Sanitizer pipeline, so it would be most kindly appreciated if you drop them into the same basket.” • Sue S. in Burlington, Vt.
“I too would love to offer support as its needed….I am a naturopathic physician, and one thing i can offer is herbal medicine, specifically antiviral tincture which is a boost to the immune system and proactive and protective against viral infection in these trying times. Please get in touch if you would like some to be dropped to your home, if you are in need…(Until it runs out;) Also if you are elderly or at risk and you need extra support in the form of grocery runs or anything like that i can be of service.
Much love in this time of physical distancing! I too cannot wait until the time i can hug my loved ones;)” Casey E. in Middlesex, Vt.
Do you have items, talents, or ideas you are able to share? Or are you in need of something specific? Reach out to your neighbors on FPF today! We’re all in this together.
Nourishing Our Communities
Despite competitive grocery shopping and items running out, countless establishments and community members have stepped up to ensure their communities are nourished during the COVID-19 crisis. Here are some posts from FPF members that may fill your hearts and your bellies:
“When the second Gulf War began in Iraq in the Spring of 2003 and Baghdad was under siege, one of the newspapers (I think that it was the New York Times, but I might be mistaken) published an article about the very last small businesses to stay open to serve the simple Iraqis in the midst of all the chaos, pain and hardship. It was Baghdad’s small local bakeries.
I was so impressed by that, and I clipped the article and stashed it away (I’m sure I still have it somewhere) and this being long before I became a baker myself. The selflessness of the invisible men and women (bakers are mostly night workers) manning those hot ovens in the middle of all that chaos to provide nourishment to the community was more awesome to me than the violence of any airstrikes or advancing coalition armies.
Today, during these uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain determined to serve you, the common men and women who make up the townships of Central Vermont. With our obligation to provide nourishment and with your support of Rise Up Bakery and the other local small businesses, we are together guiding the community through this uninvited wilderness that surrounds us. This in turn will help us to be there to help other local businesses when they can again open their doors.
Our oven remains fired tonight. And we are ever grateful to you, our friends and neighbors of the local community.” • Jim H. in Calais, Vt.
“Hello Waterbury. Nicole and I hope to provide 400 16” Pizzas to the HUUSD and Williston schools. They’ll be passed out to families in need through the school lunch pickup sites. These are Take & Bake style pizzas, like in local grocery stores.
We are hoping to raise $2000 to cover the cost of cheese, etc. If you’re in a position to donate, please consider doing so.
We hope to make the pizzas available as early as 3/27. If your need is more urgent, call or email us and we’ll get you pizza sooner. #NoHungryKids #VermontStrong” • Dan R. in Waterbury, Vt.
“Need help with food? Here are some sources of help:
Resources complied by Hunger Free Vermont about WIC, 3SquaresVT (known nationally as SNAP), senior meals and more: https://www.hungerfreevt.org/coronavirus
Hinesburg Community Resource Center Food Shelf information: www.hinesburgresource.org/food-shelf.html
Champlain Valley School District free/reduced school meals (families can apply at any time): https://www.cvsdvt.org/cms/lib/VA02000902/Centricity/Domain/35/LettertoParents_FY20_F_R.pdf” • Rachel K. in Hinesburg, Vt.
Countless more businesses, organizations and individuals are using Front Porch Forum to unite with their neighbors and fulfill the needs of their communities. Get involved and find the latest information on your area’s take-out, delivery, grocery, and prepped meal options by joining today.
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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