Neighbor to Neighbor

West Branch is already a great place to live and we would like to promote more things to make it even greater, that is the reason we are implementing this new feature and hope that you will choose to get involved.

I am sure there are already smaller groups of neighbors that help each other out and now we would like to combine and increase the group sizes to include the entire West Branch neighborhood.

Below is a copy of the letter we originally published to describe this new effort.  If you have not already had a chance to read it, please read below and consider participating in our "Neighbor to Neighbor" program.

View Neighbor to Neighbor Services Available

 

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“Neighbor to Neighbor” – New feature for West Branch Residents

Most all of you have close neighbors that you can count on from time to time for help with a task or loan of a tool, but there may also be times when the neighbor is not available or able to help you.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone you can call in a pinch for a helping hand when your neighbor is not available or you require a skill, service or tool they do not have?

We have been fortunate, in our small section of West Branch, to have several neighbors who have helped us often, over the past several years, and we have been happy to do things for them, as well.  We would now like to expand this feature to include the entire West Branch community.

We have also found that this is a great way to get to know some neighbors that we had not had the opportunity to meet before, and we have met some really great folks. Most of the tasks are small, but sometimes often very helpful to those in need.

Examples of things that have been done within our current small group are:

• Check on pets.

• Pick up newspapers/mail.

• Watch children for parents that have a need to run an errand.

• Help carry/move large items.

• Fix a leaky toilet.

• Give a lift when a car is in the shop.

• Loan of tools.

• Help with computer/software/networking.

 I am sure that there are more items that could be done to help a neighbor, and we would like to form a network of neighbors who can lend a hand to other West Branch residents.  I am sure that there are folks in West Branch who have skills and maybe a little time to lend a hand to another neighbor.  And who knows, “what goes around may come around” at a time when you need a little help.

To do something like this we would maintain a list of people with skills, services, or tools that West Branch residents are willing to share with others and the times that they would be available. 

Also, we would need to establish a process for residents to get in contact with the resident who can help them out.

Note that if you are kind enough to volunteer to help, it is not a commitment on your part to feel obligated to help at a time that is not convenient to you or to perform a task that you do not feel comfortable with. 

The reason that we would ask the volunteers when they would be available is to determine when a volunteer is “not” available.  It is in no way a commitment on the volunteer’s part to always be available at the times they listed as being available.  For instance, if a volunteer stated that they are only available on Sat or Sun, we would not contact them for an item during the week, and so on.

The volunteer skills/services/available time and contact information would be maintained on a spreadsheet.  The information on the spreadsheet would be available to only a few people in the contact network.

We would probably also put a listing of current skills, services, or tools available on the website just to give residents an idea of what is available, but it would not contain any contact information for the individuals who volunteer.

We would also establish a network of individuals whom residents can contact to request help.  The information of the volunteers and services offered would only be available to a member of the contact network.

For the contact network, Teresa and I would be glad to be the first contact point.  We would then need to have a few more individuals to volunteer to serve as contacts and we would sequentially list them based on their time availability.  The contacts’ names and methods to contact could be included on the website or distributed by email to residents on the West Branch distribution list.  The method we use will be determined by the individuals in the contact network, as some folks may have concerns about this information being posted on the website.

By using a contact list, it would not put the person who volunteered in a position where they would be contacted directly by the individual needing help and feel bad about having to say they could not help on that task or at that time.  Volunteers would only be contacted for help from one of the network contacts and should not feel bad to just say “no” to the request.  The caller would understand and either call the next volunteer with the skill required or contact the resident requesting help and advise them that we are sorry, but there is no one available to help at this time.

If you would like to participate as a volunteer with a skill or service to offer or to serve as a network contact person please contact me, and I will start building the files required to support this effort.  westbranchca@comcast.net

I really hope to see residents get involved with this effort.  I am sure there are many of you that have something to share that would help out a neighbor.  A few minutes of time could greatly help a neighbor, and you could get a real sense of satisfaction knowing you have helped someone out.  You may also someday be very appreciative of help you may receive from another neighbor.

How many homes need a pair of hedge trimmers?  I have two sets, and I use them twice a year.  The rest of the time, they sit around collecting dust.  I would be more than happy to loan them to a neighbor and have them avoid the cost of buying a set of their own.

Hope to hear from many of you soon and get the “Neighbor to Neighbor” process going.

Steve Purvis

9 E Mill Station Dr

292-0642