The Neighborlies serve the purpose of bringing light to the people who have supported their neighbors, made life a little easier for someone else, and helped to create a more positive community in North Berkshire.

North County Connections

The following is the first in a series of occasional articles submitted by the staff of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition about important North County issues.

Each day we are bombarded with messages of things going wrong around us, who doesn't like whom and who has done something to wrong someone else. The toll on us as a community can often be an inability to recognize the good that happens everyday and a loss of hope that there is still good close to home.

But each day someone else helps someone in our community. Who is that person and what are they doing? These are the questions that often go unanswered, many times because these genuine acts of kindness and generosity are a part of the fabric in our community and something many in our community do without looking for recognition. A genuine "thank you" from our community goes a long way and has the ability to make someone’s day extra special and recognize the time and effort that they put in to making our community a better place to live. This acknowledgement and recognition helps to spread the positive impact of those actions, resulting in a community more motivated to give and help others.

Knowing the value and wide reaching impact of a heartfelt "thank you," the neighborhood-organizing program of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Northern Berkshire Neighbors (nBn) organizes "The Neighborlies" event. nBn has been organizing this award ceremony since 2002, then called the Community Recognition Award Ceremony. While its gone through some changes throughout the years, its purpose has remained the same: to provide residents the opportunity to go beyond a thank you and recognize neighbors, community groups, youth, and local businesses for simple acts of kindness and going the extra mile.

This event serves the purpose of bringing light to the people who have supported their neighbors, made life a little easier for someone else, and helped to create a more positive community in North Berkshire.

Who can you say thank you to? Thank the person who brought you soup when you were sick, who has mowed your lawn all summer or shovels for you in the winter. Thank the local business for exceptional service or for providing donations to make your event even better. The group that pulled together to work toward a cause you are passionate about. Thank the public servant who made a difference in your life. Thank a young person for stepping forward to make a difference in the lives of others or is spreading kindness wherever they go. Say thanks to the people that make our community a great place to live.

Please join us in bringing attention to the good close to home. To recognize someone with a "Neighborly," submit the recognition form by Oct. 9. Forms are available online or in person, at the nbCC office on 61 Main St., Suite 218, North Adams. Then attend the "Neighborlies" event on Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. located at the Congregation Beth Israel on Lois Street, North Adams, to see them receive their "Neighborly" and be recognized by the community for their good work.

The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition can be reached at its website and by phone at 413-663-7588. Its offices are located at 61 Main St., Suite 218, North Adams.

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