We firmly believe it starts where you live and the holiday season is the perfect time to love local and spread kindness in our neighborhoods! At Eastown, we believe we can change the landscape of our communities, one small act at a time. Here are a few fun and meaningful ways you can love your neighbors this autumn. Below is a list of ideas that may get you started. Steal an idea or let these spark a new idea as you consider those who live right beside you. 

• Surprise someone by filling their car with gas

• Put out a snack box for your delivery 

• Bake cookies and take it to a neighbor you've never met

• Host a pancake breakfast or hot chocolate bar in your neighborhood 

• Host a gingerbread house building competition in your workplace

• Bring the fire pit to the driveway and host a s’mores party for your neighbors

• Gather friends and family to write Christmas cards  and deliver them to an assisted living community.

• Invite neighbors and friends to Christmas at Eastown

• You’ve Been Elfed! Gather a basket full of fun holiday treats and gifts and drop it off anonymously on a couple neighbors’ front porches with a sign (like this) to encourage them to do the same. Watch the chain reaction in your neighborhood!

These are simple ways to make yourself accessible and get to know those who live right around you. When we love those right beside us, the world really does change for the good. Tap below to borrow some of our gear to help throw an epic movie night, s’mores party, pancake bar and more!

We believe communities are changed when we demonstrate love right where we live. 

HOW TO LOVE LOCAL RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE

We believe we can change the landscape of the communities where we live, one neighborhood at a time

• Porch Drop Offs: Know someone that’s not feeling well, either mentally or physically? Leave a care package on their front porch.

• Send a note or voice memo: We all need to hear why we are appreciated and loved. Take a moment today to send a note or voice memo to someone you know needs to be encouraged

• Check in on elderly friends, family and neighbors: Ask if you can pick up groceries or make a meal.

• Make a playlist. Find your favorite dance hits or encouraging songs and send them to your friends.

• Create a snack box: Leave delivery workers a box on your porch to choose from...: bottles of water, gatorade and snacks with a note to show you care.

• Offer to pray: Hardly anyone says no to prayer. Ask someone you know what one thing you can be praying for right now.

• Send a text: Set your alarm at three different times today. When it goes off each time send a text to someone that needs extra joy or needs to know they are valued.

• Encourage a parent: Let's be honest... parents are working overtime in this season. Let a parent know how great they are doing!

HOW YOUR KIDS CAN LOVE LOCAL 

These little acts of kindness can help cultivate a heart in your kids for the community around them at an early age.

1. Invite Them Over: Find some kids in your neighborhood to enjoy crafts, a water balloon fight, or lawn games alongside you. Bring the fun to your neighborhood by making connections with other kids nearby in different ways.

2. Bake to Share: Grab your favorite dessert mix and bake it for others next door.

3. Write a Note or Draw a Picture: Our words of encouragement can be all someone needs to feel seen and loved that day. Write a card or draw an intentional picture for a neighbor near you.

4. Shop for Others: Invite your kids to join you in a grocery run to look for items to place in a care package for someone they know who is hurting. 

Eastown is able to continue impacting our community because of your generosity and we are so grateful!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOVE LOCAL PARTNERS