Submissions for this year’s program will be accepted starting June 2 at 1 p.m. ET and will end once 2,000 submissions are received. The voting phase will follow from Aug. 18-27, where the public can vote for their favorite cause from the list of 200 finalists. The 40 winners will be announced Sept. 29. For more information, please visit https://www.neighborhoodassist.com.

She passed the Big Brothers/Big Sisters sign in Bloomington, Ill., “approximately 700 times” on her way to and from work at State Farm^®.

The non-profit was looking for volunteers to serve as mentors to at-risk kids; for people that would help these kids learn lessons and develop skills to help them find success later in life.

“I’d always think of a reason why I couldn’t be a Big Sister,” Julie remembered. “I’d say I was too busy or that I wouldn’t know what to do or I didn’t want to commit to something if I couldn’t give it 100 percent, so I just kept passing by and never calling.”

Everything changed 12 years ago when Julie finally called.

“Figure out what you want to be, and we’ll figure out the rest together.”

Kayanna Jones and Julie Mullenbach meet for the first time.

In 2009, Julie was paired with a 6-year-old girl named Kayanna Jones.

“We both liked sports, we liked being outside and we liked to shop,” said Julie.

Julie remembers being a little nervous as she drove to Kayanna’s house to meet her for the first time. “I remember thinking ‘What if I’m no good at this, what if I let this kid down?’ Then I saw this adorable little girl standing on the side of the road, jumping up and down with excitement, and I just knew everything was going to be OK.”

For the next 12 years, it was more than OK. Kayanna and Julie would get together once every two weeks and as time went on, the two grew closer and closer.

”The first couple of years were mostly about building a relationship. I wanted her to know that she could always count on me, that I’d be there when I said I’d be there and that she could trust me.”

Julie once asked Kayanna what she wanted to be when she grew up. The 10-year-old thought about it for a while and said, “I guess I’d like to work at Burger King.”

“I asked her ‘Is that because you like to cook?’” said Julie. “And she told me that she thought Burger King might be a good job, since she couldn’t go to college.”

The two celebrating another milestone.

When Julie asked why she couldn’t go to college, Kayanna told her “it costs a lot of money.”

“You’re right, it does cost a lot of money,” Julie told her, “but I’ll tell you what: you figure out what you want to be, and we’ll figure out the rest together.”

Figuring it out

The next time they met, Kayanna’s career goals had changed; she now wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer.

With that part figured out, the two began working on a plan to get Kayanna enrolled in college.

“Kayanna has always been a great student,” Julie said, “so we were never concerned about her grades. I always tried to show her just because things are hard, it doesn’t mean they’re impossible.”

An avid volleyball player, Julie would sometimes take Kayanna to her games. Kayanna loved sports and quickly took a liking to volleyball. She showed a lot of promise. When the opportunity arose for her to attend a prestigious volleyball club, the two were extremely excited – even after they saw the $800 price tag.

“We weren’t really discouraged,” Julie said. “We just approached it like everything else; we figured out how we would solve this particular problem.”

Through a combination of hard work, talent and perseverance, Kayanna (pictured on the right) landed a full ride to attend college at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Julie set up a GoFundMe account and they quickly raised more than $1,000.

Kayanna continued attending volleyball clubs, working the concession stand in exchange for money off of her tuition.

“When all the other girls were going home or going out to celebrate, Kayanna was working,” Julie said. “She knew that if she wanted to reach her goal and get to where she wanted to be, this is what she needed to do, and she never complained.”

All of the hard work paid off. Kayanna was recruited by the University of Illinois-Chicago, and she’ll be attending this fall -- on a full scholarship. “It’s just so incredible,” Julie said. “I am just so unbelievably proud of her.”

Their story was so inspirational, the two were recently recognized as the state of Illinois Big Sister and Little Sister of the Year and were finalists for the national award.

“Kayanna and Julie’s story is really remarkable and inspiring,” said Corey Burrows, Chief Operating Officer of the Central Illinois chapter of BBBS. “Their relationship really personifies what we want our organization to do. When we talk about ‘helping a child reach their potential,’ this is exactly what we mean.”

Watch Julie and Kayanna's story on YouTube to learn more.

For information on how to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, visit https://www.bbbs.org/get-involved/.

Shortly after their arrival, her husband unexpectedly died. The couple had no life insurance and very little in savings. Samantha began looking for work, but the pandemic had shut down many of her options.

Desperate to take care of her family, Samantha rung up more and more debt. With her cards maxed out and depleted saving, she and her two kids were evicted from their home. Without family or friends to help support them, Samantha was facing a reality that never even occurred to her just a few short months ago. She and her three children were homeless.

Kimberly's Instagram post raising awareness for homelessness.

Stories like Samantha’s were shared with participants of the annual Night in a Car event, a community outreach program in Bloomington, Ill., where volunteers slept in their cars to raise money for a local homeless shelter. The event is also designed to dispel some of the many misconceptions about homelessness in America.

Participants gather in a parking lot in the dead of winter and spend the night in their cars to experience firsthand the inhumane and often brutal conditions many Americans face.

 “It could never happen to me.”

“This is one of the things a lot of people think about homelessness,” said Kimberly Kernosky, a State Farm® employee and three-time Night in the Car participant. “They have no idea how wrong they are.”

A staggering 63% of all Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Six out of 10 of us are one unexpected event away from financial disaster. And if there’s anything we’ve learned from dealing with the pandemic, it’s that the “unexpected” is becoming the norm.

“The reality is that you never know what’s going to happen. Nobody plans on being homeless, and nobody should think that they’re immune, because they’re not,” said Kimberly.

This year, Kimberly was joined in the car by Kim Brockman and Rachael Lund, two other State Farm employees. Like Kimberly, Kim and Rachael also found some of what they thought they knew about homelessness was incorrect.

“Homelessness is only a problem in big cities”

Kimberly's Instagram post detailing an experience while participating in the Night in a Car event.

The reality couldn’t be further from the truth; 54% of all homeless people live in small towns, a description that certainly fits Bloomington, a smaller community of about 75,000 in central Illinois. This is where Kim, Kimberly and Rachael sat huddled in their car while the temperatures dipped below zero.

“We kept thinking how right now, there were people out in our town that were having to do what we’re doing, how this wasn’t just one night for them. Maybe they didn’t even have a car for shelter,” said Kim.

According to recent studies, 37% of all homeless people live outside or under conditions deemed unfit for human habitation.

“Right now, there are families in our community that are sleeping in their cars,” said Kim. “For us, this is one night. For them, it’s their life.”

Understanding leads to compassion

 “I knew about homelessness on a conceptual level, but when you literally walk in someone else’s shoes and feel what they feel – that is true empathy building,” said Rachael.

“This was my first year participating, and it’s an experience that I’ll never forget. Not only does it make me appreciate the comforts in my life, but it fuels my drive to give to organizations who provide services to the homeless community.”

 “I know that this is completely different,” said Kim. “I know that in a couple of hours, this will all be over and I can go home, but by getting even a little look into this world, I’m motivated to do even more to help.”

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Are you sitting down?

If that’s how a conversation starts, it doesn’t usually end well. But in Shauntona Wagner’s case, it ended with four pounds, eight ounces of tenacity named Benjamin.

Shauntona, a Texas-based State Farm employee, was working from home in mid-October when she got a call from her son-in-law’s mother with some shocking news.

Her oldest daughter and son-in-law were arrested. Her daughter was transferred from jail to a hospital where she had, and then left, a baby.

No one knew the couple was expecting. The couple both suffer from drug addiction and Shauntona hadn’t heard from them in years.

Shauntona’s 6-year-old, autistic, non-verbal grandson was being raised by the other grandma, who had recently lost her husband. She told Shauntona she could not take on another child.

“I knew right then and there we had to take the baby. But we thought about it for a couple of days as a family then reached out to the social worker,” Shauntona said. “Born premature, and drug exposed, he experienced withdrawals, which are especially painful for newborns.

“The very first day we spent with Benjamin he improved drastically. He got back to birth weight and never needed oxygen,” Shauntona continued. “We were expecting him to stay another week in the hospital after we started spending time with him, but he was released two days later.”

The Wagners brought their new grandbaby home just before Halloween; after two weeks in the NICU. Their youngest child was 18 so they no longer had any of the necessary baby items. They quickly bought diapers, a few onesies and a pack ‘n’ play.

Thankfully their State Farm family came to the rescue. From coast to coast, colleagues past and present were busy online shopping for the rest of the baby essentials.

“It was a complete surprise! Not just current teammates, but people I hadn’t worked with in years gave gifts,” Shauntona shared. “We were so touched by their kindness, we took four Giving Tree wish lists to keep paying it forward.”

Shauntona is also eternally grateful for Benjamin’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and the Warren Center, which serves children and families impacted by developmental delays and disabilities. The Wagners hope to adopt Ben legally when he turns 1. Until then, he has a volunteer CASA advocating for his needs, the specialists at the Warren Center and his grandparents.

State Farm employees are among the nearly 100,000 CASA volunteers in the U.S. One is Patti McKendry, also of the Dallas area.

“We meet with the child, the schools and hospitals, and provide guidance to the courts and judges on the best plan for the child,” Patti said. “Given what we learn and experience, it can be quite emotional at times but it is so rewarding to be that one person who is solely concerned and focused on that child.”

Patti says the training is around 30 hours, but it’s a manageable commitment. She has shared her CASA story with others inside and outside of State Farm and looks to inspire others to become CASAs. Patti and Shauntona hope others will be motivated so more children can benefit from CASA services.

“We've settled into our sleepless, yet beautiful routine with our little guy,” Shauntona shared. “And he’s thriving! He's grown from 4.5 pounds to 7 pounds in three weeks.”

Sometimes, it really does take a village.

If that’s how a conversation starts, it doesn’t usually end well. But in Shauntona Wagner’s case, it ended with four pounds, eight ounces of tenacity named Benjamin.

Shauntona, a Texas-based State Farm employee, was working from home in mid-October when she got a call from her son-in-law’s mother with some shocking news.

Her oldest daughter and son-in-law were arrested. Her daughter was transferred from jail to a hospital where she had, and then left, a baby.

No one knew the couple was expecting. The couple both suffer from drug addiction and Shauntona hadn’t heard from them in years.

Shauntona’s 6-year-old, autistic, non-verbal grandson was being raised by the other grandma, who had recently lost her husband. She told Shauntona she could not take on another child.

“I knew right then and there we had to take the baby. But we thought about it for a couple of days as a family then reached out to the social worker,” Shauntona said. “Born premature, and drug exposed, he experienced withdrawals, which are especially painful for newborns.

“The very first day we spent with Benjamin he improved drastically. He got back to birth weight and never needed oxygen,” Shauntona continued. “We were expecting him to stay another week in the hospital after we started spending time with him, but he was released two days later.”

The Wagners brought their new grandbaby home just before Halloween; after two weeks in the NICU. Their youngest child was 18 so they no longer had any of the necessary baby items. They quickly bought diapers, a few onesies and a pack ‘n’ play.

Thankfully their State Farm family came to the rescue. From coast to coast, colleagues past and present were busy online shopping for the rest of the baby essentials.

“It was a complete surprise! Not just current teammates, but people I hadn’t worked with in years gave gifts,” Shauntona shared. “We were so touched by their kindness, we took four Giving Tree wish lists to keep paying it forward.”

Shauntona is also eternally grateful for Benjamin’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and the Warren Center, which serves children and families impacted by developmental delays and disabilities. The Wagners hope to adopt Ben legally when he turns 1. Until then, he has a volunteer CASA advocating for his needs, the specialists at the Warren Center and his grandparents.

State Farm employees are among the nearly 100,000 CASA volunteers in the U.S. One is Patti McKendry, also of the Dallas area.

“We meet with the child, the schools and hospitals, and provide guidance to the courts and judges on the best plan for the child,” Patti said. “Given what we learn and experience, it can be quite emotional at times but it is so rewarding to be that one person who is solely concerned and focused on that child.”

Patti says the training is around 30 hours, but it’s a manageable commitment. She has shared her CASA story with others inside and outside of State Farm and looks to inspire others to become CASAs. Patti and Shauntona hope others will be motivated so more children can benefit from CASA services.

“We've settled into our sleepless, yet beautiful routine with our little guy,” Shauntona shared. “And he’s thriving! He's grown from 4.5 pounds to 7 pounds in three weeks.”

Sometimes, it really does take a village.

2020 has been a record high for adoptions. It’s also been a record low for surrendered and abandoned dogs. All in all, a bang up year for man’s best friend.

Demand was so high for dog and cat companionship, many shelters at one point had waiting lists! But it wasn't alwasy so.

To Me, You Are Perfect

A white and tan pit bull, Dash was one of the longest residents of the Maricopa County Shelter in Arizona. Older pit bulls are often shelter veterans, as many adopters are looking for small dogs and puppies.

Molly Romine, a State Farm® HR employee and shelter volunteer, knew Dash would be a great addition to someone’s home. Molly and other volunteers organized the 12 Dogs of Christmas adoption push which included Dash in Dec. 2018.

The shelter’s 12 longest-term residents were all pit bulls ranging in age from two to 10. The team spruced up their kennels with eye-catching decor, gave the pups holiday make-overs, and shared social media posts to gain attention. The shelter also offered stockings full of donated leashes, collars, and free training sessions.

“I worked a couple of hours a night to get these dogs a home for the holidays,” shared Molly. “It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it to see Dash and all the other dogs adopted just before New Year’s Eve!”

Helping local shelters during Covid

Volunteering has been difficult during Covid due to social distancing and other safety measures. But there are other ways to give back. Owner surrendered and abandoned pet numbers are starting to creep back up. There are plenty of pets available for adoption at your local shelter.

“If you’re not sure adoption is for you, consider fostering! It’s a short term commitment with long term impacts,” Molly recommended. “If you foster a pet, you are giving that animal a much needed respite from the stressful shelter environment. You can also provide the shelter with helpful intel. Maybe the dog is great with kids but scared of car rides. This can really help match the pup with the right family.”

Is your home feeling a bit empty due to covid? Reach out to your local shelter to see if you can fill it with dogs or cats for a long “howliday” weekend of fostering and cuddles.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

After this year, we can all use a silver lining. Odds are you, or someone you know, have adopted a new pet this year.

2020 has been a record high for adoptions. It’s also been a record low for surrendered and abandoned dogs. All in all, a bang up year for man’s best friend.

Demand was so high for dog and cat companionship, many shelters at one point had waiting lists! But it wasn't alwasy so.

To Me, You Are Perfect

A white and tan pit bull, Dash was one of the longest residents of the Maricopa County Shelter in Arizona. Older pit bulls are often shelter veterans, as many adopters are looking for small dogs and puppies.

Molly Romine, a State Farm® HR employee and shelter volunteer, knew Dash would be a great addition to someone’s home. Molly and other volunteers organized the 12 Dogs of Christmas adoption push which included Dash in Dec. 2018.

The shelter’s 12 longest-term residents were all pit bulls ranging in age from two to 10. The team spruced up their kennels with eye-catching decor, gave the pups holiday make-overs, and shared social media posts to gain attention. The shelter also offered stockings full of donated leashes, collars, and free training sessions.

“I worked a couple of hours a night to get these dogs a home for the holidays,” shared Molly. “It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it to see Dash and all the other dogs adopted just before New Year’s Eve!”

Helping local shelters during Covid

Volunteering has been difficult during Covid due to social distancing and other safety measures. But there are other ways to give back. Owner surrendered and abandoned pet numbers are starting to creep back up. There are plenty of pets available for adoption at your local shelter.

“If you’re not sure adoption is for you, consider fostering! It’s a short term commitment with long term impacts,” Molly recommended. “If you foster a pet, you are giving that animal a much needed respite from the stressful shelter environment. You can also provide the shelter with helpful intel. Maybe the dog is great with kids but scared of car rides. This can really help match the pup with the right family.”

Is your home feeling a bit empty due to covid? Reach out to your local shelter to see if you can fill it with dogs or cats for a long “howliday” weekend of fostering and cuddles.

• Supporting local food banks
• Donating meals to medical workers and first responders
• Assisting the elderly with grocery shopping
• Supporting local restaurants
• Making and donating face masks
• Providing homework help
• ...and much more!

Read about some of the more unique efforts in the stories and news accounts below. 

In the News:

• "Serving" - video featuring State Farm Agent Thomas Waters (Homewood, Alabama)
• Black Woman Sends Orphans Black Dolls to Help Teach Them They Can ‘Be the Center of the Story’ (Richardson, Texas)
• St. Augustine State Farm agent supports community during coronavirus crisis (St. Augustine, Florida)
• Local State Farm agent helps firefighters reduce kitchen fires (Huntington, West Virginia)
• Columbus State Farm agents make donation to Center for Survivors (Columbus, Nebraska)
• Local State Farm agent sponsors Rustburg community day (Rustburg, Virginia)

Ben's spent his entire life around horses. Riding since he was five years old, Ben’s passion is thoroughbred horses, taking them off the racetrack, rehabilitating and retraining them before finding them new homes. 

So with the wildfires raging in California, Ben found a way to marry his passions and quickly moved to help. With his truck and horse trailer, Ben volunteered his time and resources to help rescue horses caught in the path of wildfires. 

“These fires are devastating,” Ben said. “We are doing everything we can to help.” 

His life-long experience working with horses has been a huge advantage.  

“I showed up at one farm to help a gentleman with 10 horses that needed to evacuate,” Ben said. “There were no halters and the horses hadn’t been in a trailer in years. There were people there to help, but no one had any experience or training in knowing how to get the horses into the trailer.”  

Ben was able to load the horses on the trailer and moved them to safety. He has moved more than 30 horses to safety on his farm and continues to assist where he can.  

In his day job as a State Farm agent in Walnut Creek, California, Ben stresses how residents need to be aware of the severity of the fires and take any necessary precautions.  

“Get out early, listen to evacuation orders, and have a plan in place,” he said.  

In the News:

• KXTV-ABC10:  Davis resident rescues horses from the LNU Lightning Complex fires (8/20/20)

Ben's spent his entire life around horses. Riding since he was five years old, Ben’s passion is thoroughbred horses, taking them off the racetrack, rehabilitating and retraining them before finding them new homes. 

So with the wildfires raging in California, Ben found a way to marry his passions and quickly moved to help. With his truck and horse trailer, Ben volunteered his time and resources to help rescue horses caught in the path of wildfires. 

“These fires are devastating,” Ben said. “We are doing everything we can to help.” 

His life-long experience working with horses has been a huge advantage.  

“I showed up at one farm to help a gentleman with 10 horses that needed to evacuate,” Ben said. “There were no halters and the horses hadn’t been in a trailer in years. There were people there to help, but no one had any experience or training in knowing how to get the horses into the trailer.”  

Ben was able to load the horses on the trailer and moved them to safety. He has moved more than 30 horses to safety on his farm and continues to assist where he can.  

In his day job as a State Farm agent in Walnut Creek, California, Ben stresses how residents need to be aware of the severity of the fires and take any necessary precautions.  

“Get out early, listen to evacuation orders, and have a plan in place,” he said.  

In the News:

• KXTV-ABC10:  Davis resident rescues horses from the LNU Lightning Complex fires (8/20/20)

Like most of us, all Vikki knew about shields is we need them right now.

So she decided to make some.

“About four or five months ago, I got a 3D printer,” said Vikki, an enterprise technology data analyst . Interested in 3D printing for a while, she had been using her new printer to make odds and ends around the house.

“I'd been printing mouthpieces for my daughter's trumpet and cute planters for my plants,” she said.

Then COVID-19 hit. She heard how local hospitals were in need of supplies, primarily face shields. Vikki decided that maybe she could put her newfound 3D printing skills to good use. She got to work.

Vikki recently made her first delivery of homemade shields. When she posted pictures the company's Yammer, she was extremely pleased and surprised with the reaction. People from all across State Farm offered to donate supplies, like much-needed transparency sheets. What surprised Vikki most was the number of people who owned 3D printers and said they were now going to do the same thing to help out.

“It’s things like this that make us who we are,” said Enterprise Technology-Data Executive DeWayne Griffin. “Every little bit helps, so hats off to Vikki for doing what she did and for being an inspiration to others.”

Vikki is currently working on her next batch, which will be ready for delivery soon. When asked how long she was going to keep making shields, she replied, “As long as they need them.”

“We lived a couple hours away, and having a place for the whole family to stay nearby for free was a tremendous blessing,” he said. “It’s something else you didn’t have to worry about. It gives you a home base, a place to get a decent night’s rest and provides some sense of normalcy so a family can focus on the health of their child.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) offer home environments with Ronald McDonald Houses, family rooms in hospitals for families to rest, mobile health care and grants. Volunteers bring food in or cook for the families staying at the houses, and often play games with the kids and talk to the parents.

Fast-forward 20 years, and Jason had an opportunity to pay it forward to RMHC. Peoria, Ill., about 45 minutes from Bloomington, is home to a new Ronald McDonald House, and Jason and his team volunteered to help put the finishing touches on several rooms recently.

Brian Barron, also a State Farm IT Analyst, got involved with the new Ronald McDonald House through a friend. As a volunteer firefighter, he helped gather patches from 95 different police and fire departments for a special first responder room.

“When we were there, I realized how grateful I am for how healthy my family can be. You’re helping other families focus on their child, not to mention it’s a great organization,” Brian said.

The Peoria house will serve 700 families a year, and those families will never pay a thing. The first family to stay in the Peoria house was from Bloomington.

Jason remembers moving from Utah to Illinois and being disappointed there wasn’t a RMHC nearby.

“Having a daughter that sick, we looked to see what the hospitals were in the area. It was top of mind. Hearing that Peoria was getting a Ronald McDonald House and that we were going to help out was priceless,” Jason said. “Just walking into the building in Peoria gave me pause to count my blessings. Making some furniture and setting rooms up for people was great because I have some understanding of what they’re going through and what this is going to mean to them. It’s not something you can put a price on.”

It also gave Jason an opportunity to talk to his now 20-year-old daughter about the experience.

“It gave me a chance to have a conversation with my daughter about some of those things that time has dulled. This experience sharpened my memory of what other people did for me that I could not do for myself.”

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Twenty years ago, a month-old baby girl was life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She had a congenital defect called a vascular ring – two aorta veins formed during gestation that encircled her trachea and esophagus – basically strangling her. Her father, Jason Heiner, IT GRC Analyst in Bloomington; her mother; and her three siblings stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City during her month-long stay for surgery and recovery.

“We lived a couple hours away, and having a place for the whole family to stay nearby for free was a tremendous blessing,” he said. “It’s something else you didn’t have to worry about. It gives you a home base, a place to get a decent night’s rest and provides some sense of normalcy so a family can focus on the health of their child.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) offer home environments with Ronald McDonald Houses, family rooms in hospitals for families to rest, mobile health care and grants. Volunteers bring food in or cook for the families staying at the houses, and often play games with the kids and talk to the parents.

Fast-forward 20 years, and Jason had an opportunity to pay it forward to RMHC. Peoria, Ill., about 45 minutes from Bloomington, is home to a new Ronald McDonald House, and Jason and his team volunteered to help put the finishing touches on several rooms recently.

Brian Barron, IT GRC Analyst, got involved with the new Ronald McDonald House through a friend. As a volunteer firefighter, he helped gather patches from 95 different police and fire departments for a special first responder room.

“When we were there, I realized how grateful I am for how healthy my family can be. You’re helping other families focus on their child, not to mention it’s a great organization,” Brian said.

The Peoria house will serve 700 families a year, and those families will never pay a thing. The first family to stay in the Peoria house was from Bloomington.

Jason remembers moving from Utah to Illinois and being disappointed there wasn’t a RMHC nearby.

“Having a daughter that sick, we looked to see what the hospitals were in the area. It was top of mind. Hearing that Peoria was getting a Ronald McDonald House and that we were going to help out was priceless,” Jason said. “Just walking into the building in Peoria gave me pause to count my blessings. Making some furniture and setting rooms up for people was great because I have some understanding of what they’re going through and what this is going to mean to them. It’s not something you can put a price on.”

It also gave Jason an opportunity to talk to his now 20-year-old daughter about the experience.

“It gave me a chance to have a conversation with my daughter about some of those things that time has dulled. This experience sharpened my memory of what other people did for me that I could not do for myself.”

It’s called Good Neighbor Day.

Observed annually on the 28th of September, Good Neighbor Day is a reminder we all play a role in strengthening communities. It began in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter proclaimed September 28th National Good Neighbor Day by stating:

“We are mindful that the noblest human concern is concern for others.  Understanding, love, and respect build cohesive families and communities. The same bonds cement our nation and the nations of this world.”

This year, and every year – the observance provides an opportunity to give back.

Take part in the celebration! Here are three things to consider:

1. Volunteer: On Good Neighbor Day, consider giving back to your community. The State Farm Neighborhood of Good® can identify outreach opportunities near you. Here’s how it works: * Visit NeighborhoodofGood.com®

   • Select what you’re passionate about (for example: animals, education, the environment)
   • Enter your zip code to find volunteer opportunities related to your location and interests.
2. Give back in other ways: Small acts equal big impact. According to a State Farm® study, lack of time is one of the biggest barriers to volunteering. 77% of respondents also preferred to volunteer with people they know. With this in mind, here’s a few ideas to do good as a group:
   • Go outside: Find a park or beach that needs to be cleaned up. Feel great about making an immediate difference.
   • Meet your elders: Grab a board game and sign up to visit a nursing home or assisted living facility. Often, residents look forward to sharing their stories and making new memories.
   • Cook a healing meal: Help a family or friend after illness, injury or even birth by making dinner and bringing it to their home.
   • Get active: Volunteer as a group for a charity walk or run. Kids can hand out water or snacks and cheer on participants.
   • Invite others to the party: When planning birthday or block parties, ask for donations instead of gifts to fill care packages for a local cause.
3. Enlist others to join you: List it on NeighborhoodofGood.com! Find volunteers, get more exposure, and grow your cause. Visit st8.fm/NoGRYO  to get started.

Whatever you do, give back and have a Happy Good Neighbor Day!

As the nation’s largest homeowners’ insurer, State Farm is well aware of the severity and impact of arson on businesses and public safety. That is why State Farm funds the acquisition and training of accelerant detection canine teams. Commonly called arson dogs, more than 400 teams have been created since 1993. The teams conduct fire investigation in 45 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia. Outside of state or federal agencies, no other company in North America provides arson dog program funding.

An arson dog is one trained to detect and locate trace amounts of ignitable liquids. Things like gasoline, turpentine, and other flammable solvents are used to start fires. The use of arson dogs significantly aids law enforcement and fire investigation. Arson dogs save time and money by pinpointing sample collection locations.

Labrador retrievers are the arson dog breed of choice. Their curiosity, high energy, and tracking ability helps them quickly adapt to the training and socialization. Arson dogs are often “career change” or “second career” canines. They come from animal shelters, guide dog or disability programs and animal rescue organizations. Perhaps not suited for a companion or guide dog program, they did have needed skills for another job. In essence, these dogs have a second chance to serve their communities.

Being a dog's human handler is an enormous commitment. Even on days off or during vacations, they still have to train in order to feed their dog. Unlike a typical dog owner, these men and women can’t simply put down a bowl of food. Their canine partners are trained with food rewards. This means the handlers must run training drills multiple times daily to feed their dog and then document this training in detail.

For more information about the State Farm Arson Dog Program, visit www.arsondog.org.

Congratulations to the sixteen new K9 crime-fighting teams! Learn more about each of the teams below.

Captain Robby Simpson and K9 Sonny

Phoenix Fire Department (Phoenix, AZ)

Captain Robby Simpson is a fire investigator and medic with the Phoenix Fire Department. Captain Simpson spent 28 years on a fire truck before becoming a fire investigator and has always dreamed of working with an accelerant detection canine. This is his first canine partner and the fourth team trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program for the City of Phoenix. In fact, the first arson dog team for the Phoenix Fire Department was trained through the program 26 years ago in April 1993.

Investigator Jodie Grisdale and K9 Willow

Calgary Fire Department (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

Fire Investigator Jodie Grisdale has been with the Calgary Fire Department for 12 years. She has been a fire investigator for two years. When she joined the Inspection and Investigations department, her dream was to work with an arson dog. In April 2019, her dream came true and she is now certified with K9 Willow. While this is her first canine partner, it is the third team trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program for the City of Calgary.

Inspector Joseph Cox and K9 Camy

St. Lucie County Fire District (Port St. Lucie, FL)

Inspector Joe Cox is a Fire Investigator/Inspector with the St. Lucie County Fire District in southern Florida. He has worked for the Lucie County Fire District for 22 years and spent the past four years investigating for the St. Lucie County Fire Marshal's Office. Prior to entering the Fire Marshal's Office, Cox was a Firefighter and Paramedic. This is his first canine partner and the first for the department.

Investigator Matt Huffman and K9 Shay-Ley

Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office (Jacksonville, FL)

Investigator Matt Huffman has been a Detective/ Fire Investigator with the State of Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations Division for a little over two years. He is currently assigned to the Jacksonville office but covers numerous counties in northeast Florida. Investigator Huffman retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2016 after 25 years of service. This may be his first canine partner, but he joins five other certified teams with the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office that are trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program. Since 1998, 23 teams have been trained for the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Investigator Bobby Joe Brown and K9 Sasha

Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)

Arson Investigator Bobby Joe Brown is with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. He began his fire service career in 1991 as a volunteer firefighter before being hired full-time in 1995. He was promoted to Fire Captain/Paramedic and continued that role until 2004 before becoming Fire Chief of the Beardstown department. In 2008 he left the department to become a fire investigator. This is his first canine partner. Bobby Joe and K9 Sasha join seven certified teams actively investigating fires for the State of Illinois who were trained through the State Farm Arson Dog program. Since 1993, 22 teams have been trained for the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Special Agent Greg Vespa and K9 Ross 

Illinois State Fire Marshal (Springfield, IL)

Special Agent Greg Vespa is with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, covering the Greater Metro East area of Southern Illinois, more commonly known as the East St. Louis area.

Most of Greg’s career has been in Law Enforcement, with some volunteer fire service and full time paramedic service in there as well. He joined the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office in 2006 and during his time as a special agent, has worked three other accelerant canines. K9 Ross is his fourth partner. Greg and K9 Ross join seven certified teams actively investigating fires for the State of Illinois who were trained through the State Farm Arson Dog program. Since 1993, 22 teams have been trained for the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Search and Rescue Program Manager Lillian Hardy and K9 Misty

Indiana Department of Homeland Security (Indianapolis, IN)

Lillian Hardy has been involved in search and rescue since 1981. She started as a volunteer working with Civil Air Patrol in California and has served as a Los Angeles Chapter Disaster Assistance team member of American Red Cross; director and founding member of Illinois Search and Rescue, member of Midwest Search dogs in Indiana and has served as a regional representative for the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) and has worked as an EMT/Paramedic. Since 1993, Lillian has been a certified master canine trainer through National K9 training center and since June 2004, Lillian has been the Search and Rescue Program Manager for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. This is her first accelerant detection canine partner and she will have the entire state of Indiana as her territory.

Operator Ryan Percle and K9 Dakota 

New Orleans Fire Department (New Orleans, LA)

Operator Ryan Percle is a fire truck engineer with the New Orleans Fire Department and has been with the department for 21 years. While this is his first arson canine partner, his dog is a veteran. Ryan and his family took in K9 Dakota after her previous handler was unable to continue the program several years ago. K9 Dakota was trained through the State Farm Arson Dog program in 2015 and then again in 2019.

Captain Justin Shea and K9 Linus

Prince George’s County Fire/EMS (Lanham, MD)

Captain Justin Shea is with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and has been a member of the department for 14 years. He spent the first seven years of his career riding a fire truck and ambulance before joining the Fire Marshal’s Office, where he has investigated fires for the past seven years. This is his first canine partner and they will investigate fires east of Washington, DC.

Lieutenant Craig Matthews and K9 Sowell 

Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (Marriottsville, MD)

Lt. Craig Matthews has been with Howard County Fire and Rescue for 18 years. This is his first canine partner and the fourth team for Howard County trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program. Lt. Matthews and K9 Sowell are replacing the current canine team in Howard County, Lt. Carlton Saunders and K9 Jet., who will retire at the end of 2019. Their investigation territory includes Columbia and Baltimore City in Maryland.

Investigator Solomon Rosman and K9 Reeves

New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office (Concord, NH)

Investigator Sol Rosman is with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office and has a lengthy career as an EMT, paramedic, police officer, firefighter, and fire investigator. Rosman began his career as a first responder while at college when he became an EMT. He spent several years as an EMT before moving to New Hampshire and becoming a paramedic. He also became a part-time police officer and worked for a few small towns before attending the police academy. Prior to joining the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office three and a half years ago, Rosman was a firefighter and paramedic for eight years. This is his first canine partner and the 9th canine team for NH SFMO. In fact, the NH SFMO has been in the program since the very first training class in February 1993.

Detective Michael Burns and K9 Dodger 

City of Pittsburgh Police Department (Pittsburgh, PA)

Detective Mike Burns has been an officer with the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police since 1993. He was assigned to the Fire Investigation Unit in 2000 and has been with the department Bomb Squad for the last 12 years. This is his first canine partner and they will be investigating fire scenes in and around the city of Pittsburgh.

Arson Investigator Peter Sword and K9 Wizard 

Providence Fire Department (Providence, RI)

Arson Investigator Peter Sword is with the City of Providence Fire Department in Rhode Island. He has been a member of the department for 27 years, spending most of that time on engine companies with a two year stint on rescue in between. He transferred to the fire investigation unit five years ago before being promoted to Arson Investigator. This will be his first canine partner and he will replace the retired team of Sean Reddy and K9 Tyler, also trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Lieutenant John Perry and K9 Sam 

Burton Fire District (Beaufort, SC)

Lt. John Perry is a fifth-generation firefighter who has worked as both a volunteer and career firefighter in his 30-year career. He is currently assigned as a Lieutenant on the busiest engine company in the Burton Fire District. Lt. Perry has spent the last 15 as a fire investigator and the past four years as a handler for Arson K9 Abby, who retired in April 2019. K9 Sam will replace K9 Abby investigating fires in the Bluffton, Beaufort, and Hilton Head areas in South Carolina.

Investigator Ashley Bowen and K9 Liberty 

South Padre Island Fire Department (South Padre Island, TX)

Investigator Ashley Bowen has been in the fire service for seven years, and with the South Padre Island Fire Department for four years. She has been a fire investigator for a little over a year now and was recently promoted to fire inspector. This is her first canine partner and the first for the department. Ashley and Liberty have a very large territory of more than 15 counties in southern Texas, extending from Brownsville to Corpus Christi.

Assistant Fire Marshal Chris Persons and K9 Pyper 

Hampton Fire Marshal’s Office (Hampton, VA)

Assistant Fire Marshal Chris Persons is with the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue located in Virginia. He began his career in the fire service as a volunteer prior to becoming a career firefighter. He has been a firefighter for the past six years and this is his first canine partner. Chris and K9 Pyper have big shoes to fill. They are replacing Jesse Gomes and K9 Taylor, who have been investigating fires in the Hampton/Newport News area in Virginia since completing their training in the State Farm Arson Dog Program in 2008. This is also the 4^th team trained for the Hampton Fire Department through the program. The first team was trained in 1998.

This is the excitement 28-year-old Daniel Lopez felt after being given the opportunity to volunteer with his company for a national crowd-sourced philanthropic program. “Like Daniel, I volunteered so I could see good things happening,” added 34-year-old Whitney Totheroh. “I knew my actions could make a positive difference for others.”

Last summer, both Lopez and Totheroh participated on a committee comprised of nearly 120 young business professionals at State Farm^® who volunteered their time to make an impact on communities across the United States. Their work was part of the State Farm Neighborhood Assist® program. Now in its eighth year, Neighborhood Assist awards 40 causes around the country with a $25,000 grant each to support education, safety and community development projects. Committee members like Lopez and Totheroh were tasked with reviewing the submissions sent in by causes.

Totheroh says the stories she read were inspiring. “Seeing the good work people are doing in their neighborhoods broadened my horizons. They are identifying problems and making the choice to make a change.”

Lopez agreed, adding the volunteer opportunity with Neighborhood Assist also helped him professionally. “Being on the review committee, I developed a stronger work ethic, better time management and gained more perspective about the world around me.”

The experiences of Neighborhood Assist Review Committee members like Totheroh and Lopez affirms a recent survey by State Farm, stating that certain factors, including showing impact and career development opportunities, can influence volunteerism among Millennials.

According to the study, 66% of Millennials surveyed reported volunteering at least once in the past 12 months. While Millennials had a higher incidence of volunteering, they did it less often than the Baby Boomer and Mature generations. Considering national trends, the findings are noteworthy. Millennials now surpass Baby Boomers as the largest generation in the United States.* As a result, they have the biggest potential to influence volunteerism.

“I feel like there are a lot of Millennials who do something for a short time, and then move on,” said Lopez. “Maybe it’s because they don’t know how their effort is paying off. For me, Neighborhood Assist was different. I got to help communities across the country by reviewing their causes, then witness which ones got grant funding. That was really rewarding.”

“It’s so important to highlight people in this world that are doing good things,” added Totheroh. “Put good out, and you get good back in.”

Echoing the feedback of young professionals like Lopez and Totheroh, the study revealed opportunities for career development and showing the impact of one’s work played key roles in motivating Millennials to volunteer.

Other factors included: 

• Getting social: More Millennials visit websites to learn about volunteering than any other generation.

• The more the merrier: Being able to participate with friends or meet new people plays a large role in a Millennials’ willingness to volunteer

• Knowledge is power: The prospect of gaining expertise in a certain area or learning a new skill, inspires more Millennials to give back.

• Opportunities nearby: Millennials agree, they’re more likely to get involved if the organization or non-profit is close to their home or job.

“It’s about finding your passion," said Totheroh. “The opportunity to learn, be with friends, and meet new people are all perks of volunteering. Sometimes I think young people may not know how, or where to start. But one thing’s for sure. For me, the best part about volunteering is knowing I helped someone else. That’s time well spent.”

So when Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta sent a group of bigs (big brothers or sisters) and littles (the children they mentor) to an Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm^® Arena, the kids got an entirely different view of their city.

“A lot of our littles go to school and come straight home. An event like this exposes our littles to things they might not normally be exposed to,” says Kelci Sleeper of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. The organization’s mission is to recruit volunteers to become mentors to children facing adversity. “Many professional basketball players come from similar backgrounds as some of the children we serve. So it can be inspirational to see those players up close.”

“State Farm invited local Atlanta nonprofits that we have a relationship with to attend a game or special event at State Farm Arena,” says Lonnie Smith, State Farm manager. “It has been a great way to show our gratitude for their work in local communities. The nonprofits, including their leaders, staff, and, in some instances, the clients they serve, have appreciated this opportunity.”

Thirty-five kids from three Metro Atlanta Boys & Girls Clubs attended another recent Atlanta Hawks game.

“It was amazing. The kids had great seats. The dance team came to their section and one of the kids was on the dance cam,” says Brandon Riley, East DeKalb Boys & Girls Club executive director.

The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta works with kids and teens to provide an environment where they feel safe to dream, discover and develop.

“Experiences like this gives the kids a sense of how things can be if they work hard. A lot of them want to be basketball players and seeing players they look up to is wonderful,” Brandon says. “It helps that they get the chance to experience these things.”

“Peanut butter can be expensive for food banks and food pantries to purchase yet it’s a power house of nutrition,” said, Tara Ingham, Executive Director for the Midwest Food Bank, “Especially in times of disaster relief it’s convenient, doesn’t take much preparation – and it packs a ton of nutrition.”

According to the National Peanut Board, a two tablespoon serving of the nutty spread packs seven grams of protein and more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals. With an average cost of 16 cents per serving, peanut butter makes a nutrient-rich addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

That’s why State Farm employees across the U.S. united to help stock food pantry shelves. In less than one month, they collected more than 18,000 jars of peanut butter, totaling more than 21,000 pounds. The donations were distributed to food pantries across the country.

Catrena Smith, an Illinois employee, worked with her department to collect more than 100 jars.

“This peanut butter drive is a wonderful opportunity to contribute and give together as a team,” said Smith. “It’s amazing to know our collective effort at State Farm will help feed many.”

Looking for ways to get involved in your community? Whether it’s giving a jar of peanut butter, or giving your time to a local organization - the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® can help. Visit www.NeighborhoodofGood.com® to find causes that matter to you – right in your neighborhood.

Saying yes to a family match through their local Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Al and Melanie turned caring into doing and changed many lives. In big ways.

And even half a decade later the relationship is going strong. Jacob comes over to their house on a Saturday or Sunday nearly every weekend. Now 12, Jacob “is a pretty awesome young man — polite, thankful, and never asking for anything. He blends in well with our family,” according to Al.

During Jacob’s visits, they do a variety of activities. Now that he’s in seventh grade, helping him with schoolwork is a focus area.

Al and Melanie have been helping Jacob develop more comprehensive thinking skills. “In the beginning,” Melanie says, “I sat down and read each question with him. It wasn’t that Jacob didn’t know the answer, but more that he didn’t know how to structure the answer.”

And homework time has become a family affair. Al and Melanie’s two older daughters, Izzy and Allie, help Jacob with homework too. “It’s good for the girls to teach someone,” says Al. “Which is when you learn how well you know something.” Aside from homework, they all spend time reading each weekend.

The Schellings aren’t only in this for the near term. They expect to see Jacob graduate from high school and are in it for the long haul. As contacts for Jacob’s teachers, Al and Melanie are able to track his academic and social progress.

But it’s not all about homework. Al and Melanie encouraged Jacob to get involved in a youth basketball program, which adds balance. Jacob is included in family vacations and even family pictures. Al and Melanie’s three daughters love him like a brother.

Recently, the Schellings were planning a movie outing. Their 11-year-old daughter’s first question was, “Is Jacob coming too?”. She didn’t want to go with her parents, but if her ‘brother’ was going, she would too.

Mentoring relationships take on many forms, and this relationship benefits everyone involved. In addition to Jacob’s adoptive mom, the family match program introduced Jacob to other adult role models who care about him and are committed to his success. And Al and Melanie indicate an unbelievable change in their lives.

Melanie says, “Our relationship with Jacob has helped us open up more to what kids want and need.” Al adds, “Jacob has never asked us for anything; he just wants to hang out.

“Helping kids has become quite normal for us. We are quite blessed to be able to effectively operate our agencies while taking time out to make a difference.”

“It’s amazing that we can have a successful business while following our passion,” Melanie comments. “We want others to get involved like we are. The commitment can be as little as 10 hours per month, but can have a monumental impact on a kid’s life.”

To find mentoring opportunities in your area, visit NeighborhoodofGood.com^® and search under local ‘Children & Youth Education’.

Other ways to get involved mentoring youth:

• Tutor a student
• Participate in class/group programs (e.g. Junior Achievement, coach an after school activity)
• Serve as a foster parent
• Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to advocate in court for underserved children

To others, Saturday mornings are for giving back.

For more than 20 years, a group of State Farm^® employees has used their Saturday mornings to help those less fortunate. Waking up early, shopping for groceries, cooking and serving breakfast has been the norm for this group, and they’re content to continue.

Every Saturday in Bloomington, Ill., the kitchens at Salvation Army’s Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter and Home Sweet Home Ministries are busy with State Farm employees, including Mike Blaize and Tracey Vincent, who call themselves The Breakfast Club.

“It’s not easy to get up that early on a Saturday morning; it’s just very rewarding,” Tracey, a State Farm employee, says. “The residents always appreciate of the meal we provide and it’s a nice way to give back to the community.”

Mike has always enjoyed cooking for others, so when his family moved to the area and he heard about The Breakfast Club, he wanted to get involved.

“Moving here from Chicago and being new to State Farm, it was another way to connect to the community outside of church and recreational events,” says Mike, State Farn employee.

“For me, it’s food for my soul. I have all my physical needs met, this is something deeper,” he adds.

The Breakfast Club breaks up the tasks each Saturday. A crew leader is responsible for buying the ingredients that morning and ensuring everyone shows up for duty. The cost of ingredients is split among each volunteer, and usually adds up to about $15 a person. The first crew cooks the food, followed by the second wave who serves the residents.

The club is more than just a few hours volunteering on the weekends, it’s friends getting together to give back.

“I’ve gotten to know people from all different departments of State Farm through this,” Tracey says. “You get to work with the same people over and over again and people you wouldn’t normally come into contact with.

“It’s enriched both my personal and professional life.”

And on occasion, the volunteers have quality interactions with those they serve.

“Residents are often quiet and reserved, but on occasion you’ll get someone who really wants to talk and engage and you learn a little about them,” Mike says.

“A man was trying to express his gratitude and asked us questions about our jobs. He said, ‘If I had a car, I’d get State Farm insurance.’

“Those kinds of conversations keep me coming back.”

In the News:

• Forbes: 4 Simple Things Every Leader Should Learn From Being Neighborly (9/28/18)
• Bloomington Pantagraph:  For 20-plus years, State Farm's Breakfast Club serves hot meals at shelter (11/11/18)

Located in New Jersey, the no-kill rescue is home to pit-bulls in need of loving homes.

Aladdin’s owner and Lilo’s Promise Community Outreach Coordinator, Michele Schaffer-Stevens says the soft items are a source of comfort for dogs in need.

“Having something like a homemade blanket makes a world of difference verses a concrete floor,” said Stevens. “It’s a touch of home for a dog who is waiting for its forever home.”

Aladdin knows what that’s like. In 2013, weighing just 18 pounds and missing teeth…he came into Michele’s life.

“He’d been treated so poorly by a human being. A pit-bull of his size should be about 48 pounds,” Stevens explained. “I took him in and cared for him. Today, Aladdin is a healthy, happy therapy dog who works in schools, with disaster victims, and hospice patients.”

The six-year-old pit-bull is also an ambassador for dog safety programs – and has worked with State Farm to promote responsible pet ownership.

“These are amazing, resilient animals,” said Stevens. “We love to pay it forward in the community, and working with State Farm amplifies our ability to create good in this world.”

The fleece blankets made for dogs in need are part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good®. The initiative, focused on the power of volunteering, encourages people to donate their time and talent to make a difference in their local communities.

To promote animal welfare, special volunteer events took place across the country. People were encouraged to visit a local State Farm Neighborhood of Good tent to make a fleece blanket for a rescue dog.

In New York City, the creative opportunity caught the attention of many passing by.

“It felt so good to be part of this effort,” said Kionna McClary. “It doesn’t matter who you are, you are creating a positive impact. Just five minutes can make a difference for an animal in need.”

McClary worked at the tent in New York City – assisting people as they created the soft blankets.

“This was a great learning opportunity for children and adults alike, said McClary. “Many asked how they can continue to stay involved. That’s when I told them about the Neighborhood of Good website.”

The website, www.NeighborhoodofGood.com® connects people to local causes in their community. By typing in their zip code and selecting their interest from a drop down menu, visitors can find a volunteer opportunity close to home.

“There’s something out there for everyone,” said McClary. “Whether that’s pets or music or the environment – it’s about discovering your passion and giving back.”

Interests on the Neighborhood of Good website include, (but aren’t limited to) education, arts and culture, technology, disaster and community services, animals and family services. For people with multiple interests - there’s an “All” category too.

“Many remarked how good it felt to volunteer,” said McClary. “Knowing they were making an impact for an animal in need was the highlight of their day. I’m excited to for more people to visit Neighborhood of Good to continue turning the power of caring into the act of doing.”

And for the dogs at Lilo’s Promise – Stevens says, the gift of a soft blanket, as they wait to find a loving home…is priceless.

“We are truly grateful for the kindness of volunteers. We couldn’t do it without them. A little love, goes a long way.”

• To view dogs available for adoption at Lilo’s Promise, visit: www.lilospromise.com
• To find volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood visit: www.NeighborhoodofGood.com

Jesse Bryson, president and founder of I Will Mentorship Foundation in Fort Myers, Fla., works with low- income communities to engage residents in a broad range of gardening and nutrition education programs.

“In Fort Myers, if you think about the beach, you think about luxury. But if you think of the Harlem Lake community, you think of crime,” Jesse says. “It’s one of the poorest communities in the city. There is not a grocery store within a 10-mile radius of most residents. They don’t have access to organic foods because they are not affordable.”

That vacant lot will soon be home to a thriving garden. Using hydroponics and aquaponics in the organization’s lab, 500 pounds of fresh fish and 1,500 pounds of fruits and vegetables will be available every quarter.

“This garden can show people a better way of life,” Jesse says.

Jesse says the $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist^® grant his organization received from State Farm^® last year helped him to pursue this dream. “The grant allowed us to lay the foundation for a beautiful community.”

The 2018 State Farm Neighborhood Assist top 200 finalists have been chosen. The public can vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days – Aug. 15-24 – for their favorite causes from the list of 200 finalists. Forty winning causes will be announced Sept. 25 and will be awarded $25,000 each.

To vote for your favorite cause, visit www.NeighborhoodAssist.com.

“I’ve been at an event where we were boxing food and it felt chaotic to me. There’s a lot of movement, a lot of noise and not knowing the room very well, I didn’t feel like an asset there,” the Richardson, Texas, State Farm^® employee says.

Mel has hereditary cone/rod dystrophy. Half of her family has it going back 11 generations. “I started with a considerable amount of vision. I knew colors and objects, but since they knew my sister and I were going to go blind, we learned Braille and how to use a cane at a young age.”

Mel has light perception and can see certain colors, such as a deep blue sky, a dark green lawn or a red fire engine. When Mel was a child, she loved to draw, but when she began to lose her vision, she moved to writing as a creative outlet.

“I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, but I think a lot of times my stories and poems come from an image in my mind. I couldn’t preserve it satisfactorily through drawing or photography, so I turned to writing,” Mel says.

Mel has participated in a disability-focused creative writing contest, Pen 2 Paper, hosted by the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD) since 2010. So, it made sense that Mel would donate her time to the organization that supports those with disabilities and she could use her expertise in creative writing, editing and living with a disability.

Mel submitted a piece to Pen 2 Paper in 2010 called “The Color of Music” about how a blind girl and deaf boy communicated. It received an honorable mention. Then Mel won first place with a poetry piece submitted in 2012 called “Optical Illusions,” which shared her view of the world as her eyesight failed – floating T-shirts, mistaking a small tree for a person, dreaming in color.

“I have a little light perception and at the time was going through a lot of vision loss,” Mel shares.

In 2016, Mel won first place in the nonfiction category for a piece she submitted about her relationship with a physical therapist after an accident she had in 2014. Following these successes, the Pen 2 Paper coordinators had propositioned her to be a voluntary judge, but the timing was never right.

Finally, last year Mel felt she could volunteer some time to judge the contest. She devoted 15-20 hours judging the poetry and nonfiction categories, the two categories she excelled in as a participant. Overall, Pen 2 Paper received 240 submissions in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry.

“I finally felt like I was in my element. I could do the work in the comfort of my little apartment while sipping Earl Grey tea and enjoying a breeze from my open sliding glass door,” she says. “It felt like coming home. I’d read stories and learn about artists with disabilities. We were giving them a voice. It was really fulfilling.”

Winners receive a gift and their pieces are posted on the website. When Mel won for poetry, she received a book of poems by a poet with Cerebral Palsy.

The CTD works to make Texas a better place for people with disabilities through governmental advocacy, public education and outreach and collaboration. The CTD adopted the arts as a means of advocacy, resulting in Pen 2 Paper, Cinema Touching Disability, and the Very Special Arts of Texas collaborates with Malvern Books in Austin to host the Lion and Pirate open mic series, which Mel recently participated in by reading two of her poems from her book, “Patchwork Poetry.”

“The combination of all my poems in my book is a self-portrait. I wanted to give them a glimpse of who I was,” she says.

“It’s so important to give back,” Becky says. “When you go to these villages, you see how blessed you really are. The Neighborhood of Good^® is so important, but that neighborhood could be mine, or it could be in another country.”

She says volunteering in third-world countries, and especially countries devastated by a natural disaster, puts day-to-day worries into perspective.

“Living in a tent and not having running water is not comfortable. The unknown is scary for anyone. Once you do that and see these things – compared to these people’s lives, nothing is hard,” Becky says.

In third-world countries, the citizens have a much harder life. Every culture is different, and Becky made note of this in Nepal. She saw women working the fields on the side of mountains while the men watched. In Africa, she worked in the area where there is the highest AIDs cases per capita in the world.

“When you see these people who work so hard, and you can actually see that women have less rights and how undervalued they are, it breaks your heart,” Becky says. “In Africa, the kids are their parents because both parents have passed away from AIDs. But they’re the happiest kids you’ve ever seen. It’s interesting to see the dynamics compared to the U.S.”

Becky, a State Farm^® agent from Yukon, Okla., visited Nepal the first time in April 2016 after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated the country a year before. Nearly 9,000 people were killed, almost 22,000 injured and hundreds of thousands were displaced and homeless following the catastrophe.

Becky’s volunteer group helped rebuild a church in a village that had not received any relief work since the earthquake. They also cleared rubble and debris of a home owned by an elderly family. Her church group, which included two State Farm customers, revisited the same village a year later to complete the rebuilding of the church.

“It really shows you a lot about yourself,” Becky says. “When you see how happy people are when they have nothing, it shows what is a true need and a true want.”

Becky says the hardships she has seen in other countries have changed how she views her home life.

“I try to not buy as much and try to share the need with other people. I try to get people involved in the local community through food donations or clothing drives. Anyone can go on a trip; there’s always a group of people going somewhere to help someone,” she says. “Wherever you live, you can find some way to reach out to people.”

.

Dedication

The department responds to calls nearly every day. Birthdays, anniversaries and vacations have all been missed, but those celebrating understand. “It takes dedication,” Rosewood Heights Fire Chief Tim Bunt says of his team. “Regardless if it has been a hard day in the factory, or if they are at a family event, they’ll answer the call.”

Chief Bunt has been on the force for three decades. When a volunteer joins, he makes it a family affair. Chief Bunt discusses their commitment with the husbands, wives and children of those signing up. They complete a minimum of 50 hours of initial training. Annual training requirements help firefighters serve a lifetime. The volunteers range from age 19 to the chief’s own 89-year-old father. They all understand the sacrifice.

Assistance after the Emergency

The firefighters and their chief are well known in this small southern Illinois town. It’s not necessarily because of the volume of calls, but rather for their commitment to the community.

It doesn't end with the call response. The firefighters revisit the families who have called on them for help. They've moved furniture, supplied food, or simply stopped in to say hello.

“It’s something we’ve always done,” Chief Bunt says of the extra effort. "It makes us feel better.”

Life Changing Calls Sometimes Come Full Circle

Whether a firefighter has served a day or decade, each can likely share a story that has changed someone’s life – maybe even their own. One of the most frightening calls of Chief Bunt’s career came across the radio almost two decades ago. It was an infant choking. Bunt says the adrenaline always kicks in with emergency call. However, when a child is involved, even more so. Bunt saved that child’s life. He vividly recalled those memories when a new recruit recently came to sign up as a volunteer. He was that baby Bunt had saved 18 years earlier.

To celebrate, the company held builds in its Phoenix, Atlanta, and Dallas hub locations. More than 400 State Farm employees participated alongside four families in need. The volunteers helped revitalize a historic neighborhood and complete a Habitat townhome community.

“State Farm is proud of our relationship with Habitat for Humanity. It's helped families across the U.S. build homes to call their own,” said Ed Woods, State Farm human resources director. “The October builds helped us further that tradition while turning caring into doing.”

"We are incredibly grateful for the generosity State Farm continues to extend. It helps connect young leaders to Habitat's mission. It also helps families achieve the dream of home ownership," said Colleen Finn Ridenhour, Habitat's senior vice president of development. "We are proud of our accomplishments together."

WATCH: Happy #GoodNeighborDay! We’ve teamed up with @StateFarm & @anthonyanderson to show us ways to get involved by volunteering! pic.twitter.com/R3DGelXXng

In honor of Good Neighbor Day, State Farm, the Good Neighbor brand, is organizing volunteer opportunities at events across the country throughout September and October as part of its Neighborhood of Good®. Volunteer opportunities will support local needs in education, family well-being and youth services. Established nearly 40 years ago today, Good Neighbor Day, September 28^th, highlights the role every neighbor plays in making a positive impact on local communities.

Collaborating with nonprofits, events are planned for Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Philadelphia and Phoenix, and in 30 additional cities. Each and every neighbor is encouraged to join and invite a friend, family member or coworker in honor of Good Neighbor Day to volunteer and double the impact in every community. To find an event near you or additional ways to volunteer visit www.NeighborhoodofGood.com.

Good Neighbor Day is an important moment that reminds us to roll up our sleeves, get involved and make a positive contribution. From the elderly neighbor down the street who needs help with yard work to the neighbor across the country who needs large-scale disaster relief, we know together we can turn caring into doing.

In further support of local communities, State Farm today announced the winners of its annual Neighborhood Assist® grant program. In its sixth year, the Neighborhood Assist grant program provides $25,000 grants to 40 causes that help make communities safer, stronger or better educated. The program asks individuals to identify, submit and vote on causes, with the top organizations receiving grants. To learn more about the program or to see the winning organizations, visit www.NeighborhoodAssist.com.

Together we can turn the power of caring into the act of doing in neighborhoods across the country.

• Parents: Ideas to Volunteer Together

Imagine traveling to small, rural outposts in our country’s last frontier for a volunteer opportunity. The work makes a lasting impact on those served, provides an emotional connection and an opportunity to learn about native cultures.

Volunteering to prepare a properly filed tax return is probably not the experience that comes to mind. However, it is exactly what Alaska Business Development Center (ABDC) volunteers have done since 1996.

The Anchorage non-profit, which is supported by State Farm, provides help to those without access to professional tax preparation services. ABDC volunteers travel to isolated villages. The communities are not on the limited state road system and are only reachable by airplane. They provide year-round, hands-on, tax preparation assistance through the Volunteer Tax & Loan Program (VTLP). It focuses on reaching Alaskan natives, low-income taxpayers and individuals 60 years and over.

The volunteers’ dedication to helping those in need and their sense of adventure trekking the AK wilderness has fueled ABDC’s success for more than two decades. In 2016, 90 local professionals and out-of-state college students trained and volunteered. They contributed 5,250 hours of in-kind service in 70 Alaska communities and traveled a combined 326,000 air miles.

“This is a very unique program. It brings together many key elements providing great value to all those involved," said ABDC Executive Director Michelle Kern. "The volunteers are instrumental in giving the program reach across most regions of the state. It is their hard work, dedication and sense of adventure, combined with their desire to help others that creates a win-win environment.”

Volunteers often battle harsh weather to bring tax education and preparation to the farthest reaches of the state. Accommodations are sometimes minimal. They travel in teams, pack only essential personal items, and often end up spending nights in a sleeping bag on a floor mat. They work out of an “office in a box” to provide the tax preparation services.

Many rural Alaska residents have large families. Incomes often fall below what is needed to support the household throughout the year. In some cases, the tax refund generated from a properly prepared return can amount to a double-digit percentage of a family’s annual income. That money can help provide for a family’s basic needs.

Home-cooked meals and hugs are the expression of heartfelt gratitude from the residents helped. They are an emotional reward for the volunteers’ time and effort.

The ABDC surveys participants. One of the questions asks, “What did you like best about the services provided?” Among the responses: “I wouldn’t even know where to begin with my taxes, the program helps a lot!” and “We have come to expect you guys annually!”

It also gets positive feedback from the volunteers. “The VTLP volunteer experience offers a unique way to help improve the quality of life for remote Alaska communities all while on a once in a lifetime adventure,” says program volunteer Jill Clark.

These feelings are proof that the program is meaningful and beneficial on both sides of the volunteer equation. Genius Albert Einstein once said, “The hardest thing to understand in the world is income tax.” The ABDC volunteers are addressing that understanding gap in a uniquely Alaskan way.

Jennifer* was facing hard times. In her early sixties, she lost her job due to an illness and was in dire financial straits. She had no health insurance. Her home was in foreclosure. She wasn't making enough money to make ends meet.

She looked for help and found Licking County Coalition for Housing (LCCH). LCCH gave her tax assistance that changed her course.

The program that helped Jennifer is called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA). VITA has four primary goals in serving low-to-moderate income individuals and families:

• Help low-income taxpayers file their tax returns correctly, completely and FREE.
• Inform taxpayers about the Earned Income Tax Credit, and make sure they claim it correctly. For some, the EITC can increase a refund by several thousand dollars.
• Educate consumers about the high cost of Refund Anticipation Cards (RACs) and offer a free alternative to a quick refund.
• Provide financial information to help achieve long-term financial stability.

So, what happened to Jennifer? She had her taxes prepared free by a VITA volunteer who also helped create a tax strategy to reflect the changes in her life. She was referred to an attorney who was able to provide pro bono legal advice.

She met with a LCCH homeless prevention assistant who explained the subsidized housing process and the options available to her. Jennifer now lives in a subsidized housing complex near her daughter.

She has maintained a positive attitude through all life has thrown at her and credits her attitude to her special needs grandson.

Jennifer shared, "I've learned a great deal about life from him, and how to make the best of each day. He is truly my inspiration."

Tax Tips:

• Keep all tax documents together and give them to your tax preparer.
• Honesty is the best policy, never provide false information.
• Let your tax preparer determine which filing status benefits you and your family.
• Consider what benefits the household versus an individual when it comes to claiming dependents and credits.
• Ask questions and bring last year's return with you if you are using a different tax preparer.
• There are penalties for not filing a return. Interest is charged for not paying on time.
• Short-term goals for a refund: get current on your rent or mortgage if you are behind. Start a savings account/emergency fund. Take care of your transportation needs. Pay down balances on high interest credit cards.
• Long-term goals for a refund: consider saving for retirement. A small amount can have a significant effect over time. You can talk to a State Farm agent to explore choices that might be right for you.

*The name of the individual in the story has been changed to protect her identity.

“There was a gentleman from a school district in Texas, and he said that they looked at the number of students that were not reading at grade level at fourth grade to determine the number of prison beds they would need ten years down the road,” said Debbie Clark, a retired teacher from Hinton Area Elementary School in Hinton, West Virginia. “The next day I looked into [how many of our students were reading below grade level,] and when I found out ours was above 57 percent, I thought, we have to do something.”

Soon thereafter, Clark and Pat Mick, a fellow retired teacher, decided to tackle this problem by addressing student’s nutritional needs, noting the link between nutrition and school achievement. “If you’re hungry, you can’t focus, you can’t do your schoolwork, you’re always thinking about your stomach growling,” observed Karen Bollinger, a reading specialist with the school.

“In the first three years of a student’s school[ing], they learn to read; after that it’s read to learn,” said Mick. The conclusion: these critical years help dictate future success.

Yummy Bags: Food for Thought

So this year, the two of them started Yummy Bags. Yummy Bags’ mission is to address both issues – education and nutrition. The organization provides nutritious meals to third and fourth graders with low reading proficiency at Hinton Area Elementary, in a community with a very high unemployment rate.

Select students get to take home meals for the weekend when they’re not in school and getting the food provided there. In addition, books are also distributed with the hope students will continue to read, or someone reads to them, until they’re back at school on Monday.

Launching in March 2014, Yummy Bags started their service to 15 students. By June, that number was up to 45 and now they are serving, on average, more than 60 students each week.

“Someone cares about them.”

The community has rallied to the cause as well. This past May, their votes of support helped Yummy Bags earn a State Farm Neighborhood Assist® grant of $25,000. To continue to build the education piece in tandem with the nutrition piece, this additional funding will help Yummy Bags launch an after-school tutoring program in 2015. Here, trained adult leaders will work with students on their reading proficiency.

Thanks to this program, teachers are already seeing improvements. “Attendance has improved, because they know every Friday they’re going to get it and they need to be here – and [they know] someone cares about them,” says Bollinger.

With programs like Yummy Bags, kids can focus on school work and not when they’ll be able to eat their next meal. As Bollinger puts it, “When we put the bag in their backpack, you see their face light up and a bright smile and you know that you’ve done something good for that child.”

For years, Josh Thompson, Jeremy Wetting and T.J. Duckett were working independently every Thanksgiving to provide families with a holiday meal. Thompson and Weitting were providing several Thanksgiving meals to families in Southwest Michigan. Duckett, a former professional football star, was giving out turkeys in Lansing through his non-profit, New World Flood.

They became aware of each other’s efforts and they decided to join forces four years ago to create the Hands Up Project. Since starting with only a handful of families each, and a goal to double their efforts each year after, their effort has grown exponentially. Now they make an even bigger impact on Michigan families.

“Being able to provide that one meal of the year where families spend time together and connect is what it’s all about for me,” said Jeremy, a State Farm Agent in Otsego, MI. “It’s about contributing to your community when you have the ability to do it.”

To help cover the costs of assembling and donating over 1,000 turkey dinners, the group organizes fundraisers. Duckett serves as a celebrity bartender or barista, signing autographs in exchange for tips. Proceeds are used to purchase supplies for the giveaway. Duckett was a 1998 graduate of Loy Norrix High School. He was a star running back at Michigan State University before being drafted in the first round to play football professionally. He then went on to play in in Atlanta, Washington DC, Detroit and Seattle.

Duckett started a non-profit, New World Flood, to “flood the world with service." New World Flood spread the philosophy that a single raindrop is the beginning of a flood. The Hands Up Project believes that people want a “hand up, not a hand out.” Those constructive beliefs have resulted in a synergy, making a profound impact in southwest Michigan each Thanksgiving.

“People are in need all over. We have an opportunity to take care of a few of them, if just for one day,” says Duckett, who grew up in Kalamazoo and now lives in Lansing. “It’s important to give back. I realized the secret is to give and serve and put as much energy into this mission as I did into football.”