Celebrating a year of neighboring across the state.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri again celebrates the power of everyday neighborliness when Missouri Good Neighbor Week returns Sept. 28-Oct. 4, inviting Missouri residents to recognize the simple acts that make Missouri a better place to live.
The statewide celebration, was created by University of Missouri Extension community development specialist David Burton and officially signed into law by the Missouri governor in 2022. It has grown into one of the nation’s most visible and organized efforts to encourage people to know, love and serve their neighbors, Burton said.
The initiative is supported by MU Extension, National Good Neighbor Day and ServMo. The theme for 2026 is “A Year of Neighboring Activity. A Week to Celebrate It.”
Act. Report. Nominate. Celebrate.
Missourians are encouraged to report their acts of neighboring throughout the year. An act of neighboring might be mowing a neighbor’s lawn, welcoming someone new to the community, checking on an older resident, sharing a meal, organizing a block gathering, helping a family in need or simply making an effort to build a relationship with someone nearby.
“Reporting matters because the collective stories help demonstrate the scope of neighborliness across Missouri and contribute to recognition of communities that are actively building stronger neighborhoods,” said Burton.
Don’t wait to make your nominations, he said. For 2026, Missouri Good Neighbor Week is seeking nominations in three important categories.
- Most Neighborly Business — recognizing three businesses that go beyond transactions to build relationships, create belonging and contribute to the social and economic well-being of the community.
- Most Neighborly Neighborhood — recognizing three neighborhoods (subdivision, apartment community, trailer park, urban neighborhood or small community) where residents demonstrate care, connection and collaboration.
- Most Engaged Neighbors — recognizing 20 Missourians who consistently go above and beyond to help others and strengthen their communities.
Winners will be announced during Missouri Good Neighbor Week, so nominations should be submitted now, Burton said. Nominations help tell the story of what neighborliness looks like in Missouri and recognizes deserving people, businesses and neighborhoods.
“Every nomination is a way of saying, ‘I see what you’re doing, and it matters,’” he said. “We want to make sure the people, businesses and neighborhoods that are quietly making their communities stronger don’t go unnoticed.”
Residents and organizations can report acts of neighboring, submit nominations, find resources and learn how to participate at the Missouri Good Neighbor Week website.
From humble beginnings
The inaugural Missouri Good Neighbor Week in 2022 documented 12,594 acts of neighboring, surpassing its goal of 10,000. Last year, Missourians reported 42,134 acts of neighboring involving residents in 110 cities and 86 counties.
This year, the movement has a goal to document 50,000 acts of neighboring while expanding participation to more counties and cities across the state.
“Neighboring isn’t about doing something extraordinary,” said Burton. “It’s about doing something intentional, like noticing the person next door, checking on someone who may need help, inviting someone to the table, helping with a project or simply taking the time to know the people who live around us. Those small actions add up to stronger communities.”
A Missouri idea spreading beyond Missouri
What began in Missouri as a week built around doing, reporting and celebrating acts of neighboring has been a model for more than 20 communities nationwide seeking to develop their own good neighbor week efforts, Burton said.
“Missouri’s experience demonstrates that a good neighbor week can be more than a single week of service,” he said. “It can become a catalyst for year-round relationship building, with residents, businesses, neighborhoods and local governments all playing a role.”
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