National Night Out is just around the corner. It’s not too late to plan your block party for this annual event. As custom home builders in the Omaha metro area, we know just how important getting to know your neighbors is to creating a safe community. A neighborhood where residents know one another is not only safer but it instills a sense of community which can be difficult to cultivate in this digital age. If you’ve never hosted a block party before, it’s not as difficult to do as you might think. Of course we’re all busy and planning a large event can be overwhelming, but the return is worth it. Getting to know your neighbors and coming together to form a strong community is well worth the few extra hours needed to plan a block party.
National Night Out
From the National Night Out website “National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (Texas celebrates on the first Tuesday in October). Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much, much more.”
Hosting a Block Party
There’s still time to host a block party for NNO. Once you’ve decided on a date create a flyer and distribute it to your neighbors. You can download this free block party flyer template and edit it to reflect your party’s information and then print it out. It’s also helpful to create a Facebook page or NextDoor page for your neighborhood so people can easily communicate before and after the block party.
Who to Include
You don’t have to live on a city block to have a block party. You can have a block party that consists of the neighbors in your townhouse community, cut-de-sac or mobile home area. Whatever you consider to be your neighborhood is what constitutes a block. Do try to keep it a manageable size.
Delegate
You don’t have to do it all alone. Talk to a couple of neighbors and ask for their assistance in putting the party on. Delegate specific tasks to each helper. One might be in charge of food, while the other might be in charge of entertainment for the kids. The bigger the neighborhood, the more help you’ll need. Don’t be afraid to ask, most neighbors would love to help.
Choose a Date
National Night Out is held on the first Tuesday in August, but that doesn’t mean you have to have it that night. If a weekend works better for your neighbors, by all means have it on the weekend. Have a backup date in case of bad weather.
Promotional Considerations
Across the nation, many businesses will provide meat for grilling, entertainment and other items to the neighborhood event. For instance a local real estate company is providing meat to any block parties that sign up. The ask that their business name be included on any flyers and that they can swing by the event and introduce themselves. Check your neighborhood Facebook page or NextDoor page to see if any businesses in your area are offering anything.
Sign Up Sheet
Be sure to have a signup sheet at the event. This is a great way to capture everyone’s email address and/or phone numbers.
Neighborhood Page
Another great way to keep in touch before the event and after is to create a Facebook page for your block or neighborhood, or a NextDoor page. You can put the web address on the flyer and have people sign up for the page and RSVP if needed. It’s also a great way to communicate who is bringing what for the potluck.
Encourage Networking
You may have a neighbor who provides the exact service you’ve been looking for. Find out what people do and let them promote their businesses.
A Few Things to Consider
You may want to have a bathroom policy of “everyone uses their own bathroom” to maintain home security. Encourage children to help clean up by providing a prize for those who help. Provide name tags.
Having a block party is a great way to meet new neighbors and keep in touch with old friends. As home builders in Omaha, we see each day how strong communities are formed by the simple act of getting to know one another.
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