A couple of friends wanted to create an informal, welcoming opportunity for neighbours to come together, share food and conversation, make new connections, and strengthen the sense of community close to home.
We planned to host the potluck in our neighbourhood park, making it easily accessible for everyone. We originally set a date in June but needed to postpone until mid-September. With help from a group of youth with the EdGE Learning Centre, we distributed flyers to every home within roughly a four-block radius – not once, but twice! More than 60 people RSVP’d and approximately 40 attended.
Neighbourhood Small Grant funding was used to purchase groceries so we could provide the main meal for everyone. The day before the event, a small group of volunteers gathered at the St. James Soup Kitchen to cook large pots of beef and vegetarian chili. We also provided buns, toppings and tortilla chips, while neighbours brought salads, desserts and beverages.
The afternoon was relaxed with plenty of food and conversation, and a few yard games. We also had a bracelet-making station through the Love Heals Project, a local initiative that brings people together to make and share bracelets with positive messages. It was a lovely afternoon in the park, with people meeting new neighbours and reconnecting with others. A few people commented, “We should do this again next year.”
Because we prepared food based on our RSVPs, we had plenty of chili left over. We were able to pass it along to the St. James Soup Kitchen, where it was served to other community members.
Overall, the grant gave neighbours a reason to gather in a shared space, eat together and get to know some of the people who live nearby. It felt like a good first step toward strengthening neighbourhood connections and creating a community where people know and look out for one another.
