NORTHAMPTON, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Senator Jo Comerford was one of many in attendance for the new Forbes Library performance stage ribbon cutting ceremony this weekend.
Forbes Library will also host a lawn party for National Good Neighbor Day this weekend, a National Celebration started in the 1970s with a proclamation from then-President Jimmy Carter to support community ties.
From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Trauma-Informed Hampshire County, and Forbes Library:
Good Neighbor Day celebrated in Northampton for 2nd year
NORTHAMPTON – National Good Neighbor Day will be celebrated in Hampshire County for the second year, with a lawn party at Forbes Library on Saturday Sept. 25, 2025 from 1-4 pm. The Trauma-Informed Hampshire County network is collaborating again with Forbes Library to create a family friendly Good Neighbor Day event.
“Loneliness has increased tremendously since the pandemic; the best antidote to loneliness and trauma is social connection,” said Ruth Ever, Program Director for Trauma-Informed Hampshire County, (TIHC). “It’s important to remember all the ways we support each other. TIHC decided to participate in this national and statewide observance because we believe our lives are richer and better because of connections with neighbors.”
Everyone is invited to bring a picnic to the front lawn of Forbes Library on Saturday September 27.
Between 1-4 pm there will be games like corn hole, giant Jenga, and art projects, along with snacks, a popcorn machine and international folk dancing that is family friendly and easy to do. There will be free book giveaways, a spinning board with prizes and the creation of a wall board to celebrate the kindness of our neighbors. At 2 pm, Mayor Sciarra will read a city proclamation celebrating GND. People are encouraged to bring a neighbor, their families and friends, or to come alone and meet someone new.
Good Neighbor Day was created in the early 1970s. In 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation, saying: “Understanding, love and respect build cohesive families and communities. The same bonds cement our Nation and the nations of the world….This sense of community is nurtured and expressed in our neighborhoods …I call upon the people of the United States and interested groups and organizations to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
In Massachusetts, Good Neighbor Day is being spearheaded by the Coalition to End Loneliness and Build Community, of which TIHC is a participating member. Gov. Maura Healey this month issued a proclamation identifying Sept. 28 as Good Neighbor Day of Action. “The last few years have shown us the value of connection, kindness and community. We are proud to recognize Good Neighbor Day of Action and encourage people across the state to use the day as an opportunity to take a minute to do an act of kindness.”
TIHC is a county-wide network committed to creating a kinder, more trauma-responsive community through training, education, advocacy, and policy change. Hampshire County’s Good Neighbor Day events are supported by the Western Mass Training Consortium, Greenfield/Northampton Cooperative Bank, Northampton Neighbors, and the Cutchins Programs for Children and Families.