"We Make A Life By What We Give"

Lakewood New Life Church Volunteers in front of one of the homes worked on

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give,” said Sir Winston Churchill, and oh, how those words ring true to this day.

On Tuesday August 9, LakewoodAlive and Lakewood New Life Church spent a day with Cranford residents to help beautify the exterior of their homes. A total of eight volunteers worked from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and reached out to six homeowners. Porches were stained and painted, gutters were cleaned, lawns were mowed, weeds were pulled, mulch was laid, and windows were scraped. Equally important as the physical improvements made that day was the bond two local organizations made with the Cranford block. After we finished cleaning gutters and painting back steps at one home, the volunteers were graciously offered by one homeowner the use of any tool in his garage to help his fellow neighbors with their homes. This selfless act exemplifies a sense of community that makes Lakewood, its neighborhoods, and residents, special.

By making various simple physical improvements to porches, we hope to also encourage more random moments of interaction between neighbors. Often, these types of moments can truly develop a place and community which further strengthens neighborhood ties. Lakewood is a “City of Homes” and a “City of Porches.” Can we also be a “City of Neighborhoods?” 

And, to the national lender who controls one particular property: you’re welcome. The volunteer team cut both front and back yards at that site. Is it too much to ask a large institution to pay someone to cut the yard every-so-often?