Lending a hand locally

FLO MARTIN

This past Saturday, my husband awoke me with a smile on his face and

excitement in his voice. “Flo, there’s a group of people who are

painting the house down the street. You’ve got to go see.” I noticed

through the window a true-blue sky and tons of sun. “Yes,” I thought

and a song began to play in my head.

“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood...”

After dressing and grabbing a cup of coffee, I headed out the door

and down the block. “Wait a minute,” whispered a secret voice. “Go

get paper, pencil and camera. This might be a Kodak moment.” Getting

closer to the house in question, I could make out the words on a huge

white banner: Project Impact. Hmmm, I wonder who that is?

My neighbors, that’s who. For the next few minutes, I chatted with

several people milling about on the driveway and in the front yard.

Two fellows, both named John, told me they were part of the annual

Neighbors for Neighbors or Vecinos para Vecinos project sponsored by

the city of Costa Mesa. More music came to mind:

“...A beautiful day for a neighbor.

“Would you be mine?

“Could you be mine?”

Turns out these neighbors are part of an outreach ministry at The

Crossing Church located at Newport Boulevard and Victoria Street.

John explained that The Crossing contacted the city coordinator of

the event and received their assign- ment: the house where we were

all chatting. Turns out, though, these neighbors do a random act of

kindness more than just once a year. Try more like once a month. My

mental song continued:

“It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood, A neighborly day for a

beauty.

“Would you be mine?

“Could you be mine?”

Then Chris came over. He was wearing an official-looking badge.

Chris explained, “This annual event is driven primarily by local

churches and service organizations, such as the Lions’ Club.”

Even out-of-towners like the UC Irvine chapter of the Circle K

International showed up as a Canyon Park crew.

I turned to three young women and asked, “Why are you here?” Kari

wants to help others in a simple way. She feels that working locally

can make just as much of a difference in her world as going out of

the country on some fancy mission. Julie is giving back to people

what God has given her. Jane, too, likes helping locals.

“There’s plenty to do right here,” she said.

Turns out that Jane lives just around the corner in her family

home of more than 40 years. “Wow,” I thought, “this young College

Park woman antedates even an old fossil like me.”

Back to Chris. He’s a software engineer and -- here is where my

aging brain finally figured out his function in the entire scenario

-- a ham radio operator. I remarked that my first husband got his ham

radio license through classes with Gordon West, another College Park

neighbor and one of my favorite Daily Pilot contributors. Chris

laughed and went on to explain that Gordon West started it all with

Mesa Emergency Services’ Amateur Communications. Gordon not only

comments, he contributes. A man of words and of action.

“I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.

I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with [people like]

you.”

Chris went on to explain that he was in touch that day via ham

radio with “net control” at two locations, one at City Hall and one

at Canyon Park. If any Neighbors for Neighbors group needed help or

additional supplies, someone nearby would just grab the ham radio.

Ha. For once, “just call City Hall” really works.

“So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day.

Since we’re together we might as well say: Please won’t you be my

neighbor?”

Neighbors for Neighbors, thank you all.

* FLO MARTIN is a Costa Mesa resident and retired high school

teacher who lectures part-time at Cal State Fullerton in the Foreign

Language Education program and supervises student teachers in their

classrooms.