Social Service Committee — Neighbors Make A Neighborhood

By Beth Bender

May 1993

Original Neighbor Assistance Volunteer and Contractor Referral forms. Historical source forms.

Historical May 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

The Social Service Committee Asks All Residents to Become Neighbors: Neighbors Make a Neighborhood

Skinker DeBaliviere is a special place; it is a neighborhood in the true sense of the word. How it became this way is simple: NEIGHBORS MAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD.

They are its foundation and its future.

The history of this neighborhood tells of housewives acting as real estate agents, of the first neighborhood newspaper in this city, and of a Mother’s Day Art Fair on 6100 Kingsbury that united all of Skinker DeBaliviere’s people, churches, and organizations.

All of this was to help promote the neighborhood and the neighbors did it all.

They worked together against unwanted businesses and crime, and for youth activities and beautification.

Neighbors made Skinker DeBaliviere, but it is an on-going process.

It is in this spirit that the renewed SDCC Social Service Committee is asking all residents to become neighbors.

We are beginning with opening further the lines of communication between each of our neighborhood churches in regard to the services they offer.

It is our hope that each of the churches can continue to do its work in unison with the others, complementing services and reaching out together to our neighbors in need.

A new program that we are instituting is the Neighbor Assistance Volunteer Service.

It is the belief of the committee that we have elderly and other neighbors who could use a helping hand when it comes to making large purchases or dealing with contractors. Too often, our neighbors are pressured into expensive warranties or high bids because they look like an easy mark. Could you spare a few hours to save a neighbor $50, or what about $3,000? Inclement weather also slows people down. Could you be on a list to pick up groceries for someone when weather is bad and they are stuck inside? (See volunteer form)

We also are compiling THE SKINKER DEBALIVIERE NEIGHBORS’ DIRECTORY OF RECOMMENDED HOME CONTRACTORS. Too often we find out our new roof cost twice as much as our neighbor’s, that our gutters should be made of gold for the price we paid, or that the plumber we’ve hired must have liquor or silverware. So, we’re putting together a directory listing all types of workers from handypeople to window replacers, from drywall workers to insulation installers and anybody else you’ve had a good experience with and care to recommend.

The directory will be indexed by trades with the name, address, phone of the handyperson and the name and phone of the person making the recommendation. Contractors who are Skinker DeBaliviere residents will be specially marked to help keep money in our neighborhood. Once the directory is compiled, a copy will be available in the SDCC office, at the library, and at each of our local churches for their reference.

Please help neighbors get the most for their money and help support your best contractors and workers. (See referral form)

The SDCC Social Service Committee also is planning ahead for next winter by finding out about home weatherization programs that we might bring to our neighbors in need.

We are also hoping to bring more programs to the young people of this neighborhood.

As time and interest grow we hope to renew the neighborly spirit that made Skinker DeBaliviere the best neighborhood in this city.

This can only happen if residents become neighbors and everyone begins to give of him or herself.

If you have any questions or suggestions for the Social Service Committee, please call Kim Koenig at the SDCC office, 862-5122, or Beth Bender at 863-3854. Our next meeting is Thursday, May 20, at 6:30pm in the SDCC office, 6010 Kingsbury. Committee members include Beth Bender, Wilma Cantwell, George Fox, Kim Koenig, Shirley Polk, Faith Sandler, and Laura Wright from Breitmayer Community Ministry.