Did the Earthquake and the Hurricane Help Connect You to Your Neighbors?

In the beginning stages of the Reston for a Lifetime initiative, we were at a meeting discussing the need to create a system where neighbors could help each other better. 

As we reflected on ways we could connect, one person shared a story about how he and all his neighbors came together to help each other shovel snow in one of the major snowstorms a few years back.  After shoveling, they all went to one neighbor’s house to watch football.  He then shared how the following year everyone on his street had purchased snow blowers and they had not gotten together since.

One of the primary objectives of the Reston for a Lifetime initiative is to bring neighbors together throughout Reston together in a meaningful way and promote interdependence.  It’s not necessarily an easy task to get people motivated to help each other, unless of course you have something like a snowstorm, hurricane or a change school boundaries.  Its “problems” like these that seem to make it easier for us to connect.  The challenge is that most of the time, when the “problem” is solved we retreat to our independent lifestyle.

It makes sense to start having a dialogue before we have “problems,” which also has the benefit of better connecting the community.  I have a friend in Maryland whose neighborhood comes together every fall and requests volunteers to help shovel snow for those that might not be able to.  In the spring they do the same to identify families that will host another if the power or A/C goes out on a 100- degree day. 

I know there are plenty of examples of this type of activity in Reston; however, if it’s not happening on your street it doesn’t help you!