The original plan was a small block party for 2 of the 15 River Walk Townhome buildings (about 10 homes) on Sept 13. It was to be an intimate BBQ with 10–15 neighbors and a few games.
Instead, we went bigger: a Meet and Greet for the entire complex of 77 homes on Sept 20, timed with the launch of Block Watch and the introduction of the 2025–2026 Council. We planned for 50–75 people on a $300 NSG budget. To stretch funds, we kept refreshments simple (cookies, coffee, tea) and asked for donations—Starbucks provided free coffee carafes, Save-on-Foods gave bottled water and popcorn, and 10 local retailers contributed generous door prizes ranging from $100 gift cards to swag bags.
Townhome volunteers helped with specific tasks like making the community board, canvassing for sponsors, and food pick-up. I teamed up with the Council President to print and distribute invites. My church’s Life Group also pitched in so residents could just relax and enjoy the day.
The event was a huge success! Over 50 neighbors joined in for games, conversations, and community-building. The Vancouver Fire Department brought a truck and gave a live ladder demo, which was a big hit with kids. Our Block Watch Lead Introduced Block Watch, and the Council President introduced the new 2025–2026 Council. A community board asked residents to share their “Neighborhood Superpowers” (like baking, gardening, babysitting, or organizing games), creating fun ways for people to connect. Please see the link to see a RECAP of the event.
What I learned:
- People truly want to help when given clear, specific requests.
- Sponsors and retailers were incredibly generous when approached with a simple donation letter.
- Food isn’t what makes an event meaningful—coffee helps, but the real focus is people and purpose. Inspired by The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker, we made connection the goal: games for all ages, opportunities for conversations, and moments to laugh and build friendships.
Thanks to NSG for making this possible—we couldn’t have done it without your support!
