Treating your neighbors like family

Remember the tragic, horrible times of Superstorm Sandy in 2012? Trees down, power out everywhere, nowhere really safe in our area to go. Our neighbor’s power was down, and so was ours. Our family wanted to help. We invited them into our yard and told them to bring everything there so that we could try to have a good time. There was pie, and a lot of stuff that made us a little more joyful. We barbecued the food and hung out for a while.

A few days after Sandy, it snowed really hard. My mom said we should help our neighbors by shoveling the snow and cutting down a few tree branches that were about to fall. That’s when I realized that I could help people all the time. Also, I learned there doesn’t have to be a storm for me to volunteer and help my community. It could be little things I do that make a huge impact.

Here are a few ideas to get you started. Shoveling snow out of your neighbors’ driveway, raking leaves, taking in newspapers and garbage cans, making a batch of cookies and giving some away, even sharing vegetables from your garden. Doing small things can make you feel good. Become a part of your community, and remember, you can do this any time, any place — all you need is you.

Debbie Cain and Derrick Horodyski’s sixth-grade class, Chatterton Elementary School, Merrick