Ghost of Midnight

Neighbors helping neighbors to get out and vote

Posted on Friday, November 2, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

With election day around the corner, we’ve been witness to many great examples of FPF members offering to help get their neighbors to vote.

“I would love to help a couple of people who either don’t have a car or cannot drive, get to and from the polling booth next Tuesday. This would include pick-up at the person’s home, bringing them to the polling station, waiting for them to vote, and then driving them back home.” • Sonia in Williston

“If you or someone you know needs a ride to the polls November 6th – or needs a ride to Town Hall to get a ballot for early voting – please let me know. I am arranging to assist folks getting a ride.” • Jean in Reading

“When you read the postings in this forum about a hotly contested election for our local State Representative, all of them, no matter who the advocate is supporting, have been reasonable and respectful and I think it reflects well on the quality of the people who live here and the health of our community.” • Howard in Wells

All of us at Front Porch Forum encourage you to vote this election!

A musical bond is formed on FPF

Posted on Monday, October 29, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

Here’s a special story of how FPF helped musicians form a neighborhood connection that still endures:

“Brit, whose family had recently moved from out west, used Front Porch Forum to see if anyone would be interested in getting together occasionally to play guitar and make music. a few of us took her up on her offer, and we hit it off. Almost 6 years – and many farmer’s markets & events – later, our meetings have become something very special to each of us. We named ourselves the “Front Porch Foursome”, in honor of our origin. We all still have our day jobs, but cherish the adventure this has taken us on. Aside from our good fortune, we appreciate the forum that you have provided for our community, and for all of Vermont.” • Brit, Nancy, Kathy & Char – the Front Porch Foursome

How will you use FPF to form friendships?

“Here’s how we’ve benefited from FPF… “

Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 by Michael • Comments are off for this post

Here’s FPF-member Amy’s list… what’s your’s? Please donate today to our Supporting Member Campaign!

Bought a chair.
Got a free fridge.
Learned about the town forest.
Gave away baby gear.
Bought a desk.
Got a free music stand.
Bought a suitcase.
Re-homed my houseplants.
Found out about a garage sale.
Got some wicked awesome leaves. (Thank you Dave T!)
Publicized many events for The Coop and Forest School.
Learned about Saturday morning meditation.
Found out a hundred dogs were lost. And found!
Learned about fun stuff to do at the library.
Got a free wool blanket to make a sleeping bag.
Learned about the town plan.
Complained about squirrels.
Was reminded to check for ticks.
Gave away some tools.
Bought some mud boots.

I could really go on. Thanks Richmond! We made a donation. Thanks FPF!

Helping Older Vermonters Age Well!

Posted on Monday, October 22, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

Every day, neighbors connect on Front Porch Forum to post and read about events, community issues, and local goings on. Read about how Vermont neighbors and FPF have helped older Vermonters to Age Well below.

If you’ve noticed Front Porch Forum making a difference in your community, consider becoming a supporting member today by donating here.

“Thank You to Front Porch Forum for Helping Older Vermonters Age Well!

Aging well requires community. Neighbors assisting neighbors to accomplish the necessities of life ““ maintaining social connections, securing ample and healthy food, having the mobility to address life tasks such as keeping medical appointments.

Helping make this happen for older adults in Northwestern Vermont (Franklin, Addison, Chittenden and Grand Isle counties), is the core purpose of the regional nonprofit and Area Agency on Aging organization, Age Well (www.agewellvt.org). Instrumental in accomplishing our mission is our cadre of dedicated volunteers. Each week over 850 of our aging neighbors will receive at least one meal, primarily as part of our Meals on Wheels program, with over 5,000 meals served weekly. In addition, Age Well’s volunteers serve as Senior Companions and Friendly Visitors to ensure that isolation, transportation and assistance with daily living tasks are not barriers to living life to the fullest. These programs are only possible through the efforts of our incredible volunteers, now numbering over 1,100.

So what does this have to do with the Front Porch Forum? Consistently, the most productive resource for Age Well volunteer recruitment has been the FPF. As demand for Meals on Wheels has increased, so has our need for finding volunteers. During times of greatest recruitment need, the FPF team has gone the extra mile to assist in finding new volunteers, putting into action the spirit of community that is the essence of Front Porch Forum.

For the hundreds who are served by the scores of individuals who found their way to become Age Well volunteers through the FPF, we simply want to offer a sincere shout out. The Front Porch Forum is truly a remarkable community treasure.”

-Kim H., Age Well Board Chair from Mallets Bay

Join Us at Tech Jam

Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

Join Front Porch Forum and dozens of Vermont tech firms at this year’s Vermont Tech Jam, presented by Seven Days. This free event will be held on Friday, October 19, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Enjoy presentations, demos, and displays. Learn More about Tech Jam here. You can find FPF at booth G1!

The next best thing to sitting around a pot-belly stove….

Posted on Monday, October 15, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

Times may change, but Front Porch Forum is happy to provide a gathering place for neighbors across the state.

“Front Porch Forum is the next best thing to sitting around a pot-belly stove in the town general store. Neighbors meet neighbors, exchange ideas, ask and make recommendations, sell and buy useful items, publicize local events, find missing pets, and much, much more. We’re here for one another in the old-fashioned way. Let’s keep this Forum flourishing with a critical donation, no matter how large or small.” – Gretchen B. in Morrisville

If you value the free service that Front Porch Forum provides to your community, consider making a supporting member contribution today: https://frontporchforum.com/supporting-members.

Let’s pick for our neighbors this apple harvest season

Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

The Vermont Foodbank reminds us to visit one of Vermont’s orchards this season and Pick for Your Neighbor! Front Porch Forum is pleased to sponsor this yearly initiative to help our neighbors. So let’s work together to help increase the amount of fresh produce available for Vermonter’s facing hunger and support our local orchards. To see a list of participating orchards visit https://www.vtfoodbank.org/event/pickforyourneighbor

Postings which generate response

Posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

From small businesses to larger non-profits and ad agencies, many agree that Front Porch Forum gets results.
“Our response has been HUGE! Thank you so much for helping us meet our recruitment goals!” • Dana at UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

“The response rate of people who have said they saw the ad on FPF has been notable! So all good news!” • Nilda with Kerr Advertising

“Where do you advertise for your Burlington business? Front Porch Forum is a free, easy way to advertise.” • Alignable member, Kate, shared her thoughts under “Coffee Shop Buzz”

Better Informed Communities

Posted on Friday, September 14, 2018 by Front Porch Forum • Comments are off for this post

Front Porch Forum Members Trust Their Neighbors.

“When it comes to informing neighbors, was there really life before FPF?” “Our community garden is thriving in its 4th season, largely because gardeners and supportive community members heard about it on Front Porch Forum. On FPF, we learn what our neighbors are thinking and doing. We participate in offerings we wouldn’t otherwise have known about. We avoid hazards we might have stumbled into if uninformed. We sell, buy, and give all manner of goods and services. I look forward to reading every issue. My responses range among curious, amused, concerned, angry, delighted, relieved, gobsmacked, inspired, and more. It takes a lot of worthy content to stimulate so much response repeatedly over time.” • Sheryl in Montpelier

Connecting with neighbors and building local community begins with being better informed. FPF stimulates that in spades. Neighbors who use Front Porch Forum to communicate are more aware of who lives around them, stay better informed about what’s happening in their communities, and are more prepared to face challenges and times of crisis.

“FPF exists to help communities become more resilient,“ says FPF co-founder, Michael Wood-Lewis. “Neighbors who know each other and communicate about what’s happening locally are far more likely to be better prepared to face tough times.”

You’ve got to know that a local issue is bubbling up if you’re going to be involved. For many Vermonters, that starts on their neighborhood or town FPF. Even knowing about the weekend’s yard sales or school sporting events via FPF leads people to getting more face-to-face time with neighbors.This leads to more connection and more involvement. Get on the local grapevine. Sign up for your local FPF. Read, and then share your perspective in a posting to neighbors.

Bree, librarian at the Westford Public Library, uses Front Porch Forum regularly to reach their patrons. From updates, special event notices and library closings, she finds FPF “reliable and easy to use. FPF is the social media outlet that reaches different generations of patrons – appealing to the whole town rather than a certain demographic or “friend” group.”

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded an independent third-party, Network Impact, to design, implement and analyze an online survey of 132,188 Front Porch Forum members in March 2017. 13,086 Vermonters completed this 20-minute survey. With a 99% confidence level, the survey results represent the full FPF membership.

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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

… about neighbors, community and Front Porch Forum