Sept. 9, 2026
Contact: David Burton, burtond@missouri.edu
A mowed lawn. A meal shared with someone next door. An invitation that makes someone new feel welcome. Small acts like these happen every day across Missouri. Through the University of Missouri Extension, they’re also adding up to something much bigger.
Last year, Missourians documented 42,134 acts of neighboring in 110 cities and 86 counties as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. This year, organizers hope to reach 50,000 as the statewide celebration returns Sept. 28-Oct. 4.
“Neighboring isn’t about doing something extraordinary,” said David Burton, an MU Extension community development specialist who created Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “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 with growing reach
Missouri Good Neighbor Week began in 2022 with a goal of documenting 10,000 acts of neighboring. Missourians responded with 12,594.
Since then, the effort has grown into one of the nation’s most visible and organized initiatives encouraging people to know, love and serve their neighbors, Burton said. More than 20 communities nationwide have looked to Missouri’s model as they developed good neighbor week efforts of their own.
Created by Burton, Missouri Good Neighbor Week was signed into law by the governor in 2022 and 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.”
“Missouri’s experience demonstrates that a good neighbor week can be more than a single week of service,” Burton said. “It can become a catalyst for year-round relationship building, with residents, businesses, neighborhoods and local governments all playing a role.”
