‘Neighbors helping neighbors’

GREEN BAY – The 7th Annual Good Neighbor Week, organized by NeighborWorks Green Bay, took place this week, bringing together volunteers, businesses, community organizations and neighbors to make a difference in local neighborhoods.

Eleven projects were completed during Good Neighbor Week, contributing to a total of 23 projects completed across the greater Green Bay area this year.

During Good Neighbor Week, volunteers helped homeowners with minor home repairs, painting, landscaping and exterior improvements at no cost to homeowners.

“It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” said Carnardo Johnson, a homeowner and project coordinator on one of this year’s projects. “That’s a concept we don’t really have in a lot of communities, but it’s great to have it.”
Johnson has been involved in Good Neighbor Week as a volunteer for five years, but this year he also took on the role of homeowner, with volunteers helping to address issues with his landscaping and driveway.

“My wife and I bought this house about three years ago and we just need a little help…” Johnson said. “We are very grateful to have this opportunity… It’s great for homeowners who don’t have the finances or don’t have the physical capabilities to be able to do these things to have help from volunteers.”

Projects are made possible through local sponsors, community partners, and volunteers.

“We have to get out of the mindset of, ‘Someone else will do it,’” Johnson said. “A lot of times, people will see the NeighborWorks sign ups and see that you can volunteer for projects and they’re like, ‘Oh, well somebody will do it.’ Make sure that somebody is you. Don’t always assume that somebody else would do it. You don’t have to have any specialized skills to be able to give a helping hand.”