Lending a Neighbor a Helping Hand

When a neighbor needs a hand I’m more than happy to help. Likewise they have always been willing to help me. When no one is home I can count on my neighbors to keep an eye out.

But how do you help a military family? How does one actually show their support for the troops? These are the people protecting and keeping an eye out for all of us – how do we return the favor? There are dozens of great organizations that send troops supplies and letters from home and help military families get through tough times.

Whether they are across the street, across town, state or country they are our neighbors.

I read a post recently from a couple near the Chicago area. They have been working on their house but it is not quite livable yet. They are renovating it themselves replacing plumbing, scraping walls, painting, replacing light fixtures, tiles — name it. Take a look at their website, Slaves of a Vintage House, – their passion is compelling and progress impressive. What an undertaking.

They are faced with bit of a situation though. He has been called back to active duty (USMC) and is to be deployed soon. They are working as hard as they can to get the house into a habitable state before his deployment so that she and their son will have a home.

I noticed on their website the have a link under the heading “Worthy Acts of Kindness” to Modest Needs, a wonderful charity that helps those in need. Here is a family working to make their house habitable, he is about to be deployed in service to the country keeping an eye out for us and they are selflessly reaching out helping those in need.

What a great neighbor to have. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to return the gesture and help them get some things fixed so that they can moved in before he is deployed. Perhaps you or you know of a handy man, a veteran, a carpenter, plumber or an electrician in the Chicago area that could lend a hand in such a situation.

Don’t forget to look right in your own neighborhood too – perhaps there is a military family near you that could use a hand. It would be a great way to give them thanks and show your support.

Please visit their website and lets see if we can help out a neighbor. You will also find a link on the left sidebar to their site. lets help all of them out — Spread the word. Happy Thanksgiving!

Semper Fi

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