The results of Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 – Oct. 4) have been overwhelming.

The stretch goal for the week was to document 10,000 acts of neighboring in Missouri and as of Oct. 5, there have been 12,851 acts of neighboring documented.  

Over 100 Missourians have been nominated as Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbor! It will take several days to organize the final submissions and send information to county-level partners for local judging and recognition.

The statewide awards (Best of Missouri Award, Best of Rural Missouri Award, Best of Urban Missouri Award, Most Neighborly City, Most Neighborly County and five Most Engaged Missouri Neighbor Awards) will be announced  online Oct. 20 during the Neighboring 101 class.

Over 285 individuals took the time to report their neighboring action or event. Examples ranged from neighborhood food drives and neighbor picnics to individual efforts to reach neighbors with flowers, cookies and even garden produce. Whether the effort impacted eight or several hundred, the effort showed as people took practical actions to demonstrate their love for neighbors.

The Hopeful Neighborhood Project is the other statewide partner involved in judging and promotion. They have already sent a gift card and letter to every person nominated.

“The way Missourians have responded to the 10,000 Acts of Neighboring goal is inspiring. The submissions that have come in include large events as well as individual acts of caring. They both show how everyone can get involved in neighboring using their gifts to make the world better one neighborhood at a time,” said Jennifer Prophete, community programming director, with HNP.  

In the coming weeks, various counties will announce local honorees.