Inspired by some of the one hundred tables projects and focus on fall, how can community come together for Hallowe’en to build neighbourhood connections? Host a Hallowe’en costume exchange. Invite people to bring items to donate so people can “build your own” costume gathering with people creating a sharing of resources. Consider what to do with pumpkins, such as pumpkin carving time, roasting seeds, coordinating submission of photos people take of their carved pumpkins, sharing pumpkin recipes, offering pumpkin soup, pumpkin cookies, cakes or muffins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin drinks. Offer a fall themed arts and crafts. Host a local walk to observe colours. Encourage people to take photos of fall colours and create a slide show to share with those who can’t get out to see them such as in a long term care home. Set up a table in partnership with a local pumpkin patch or corn maze, to offer faithful presence. Create a fantastic fall of thanks.
Expand your gratitude with offering thanks for people in your neighbourhood and find ways for them to share their thanks …through connecting, gathering at a table outside, in a public space, inviting people to gather to share gifts of gratitude like tea and cookies, notes and cards, exchanges of goods, services and talents offer thanks. Offer an autumn community meal offering thanks and gratitude for your neighbours and getting to know your wider community, attending local sports, music and activity groups to cheerlead and let people know you care and are thankful for their efforts and their talents. Take gratitude on the road setting up a gratitude table, offering of individually packaged gratitude cookies and a gratitude box or book to invite people to share what they are thankful for. Who can you thank in your community? One community of faith is hosting an ecumenical service of gratitude at the local fire hall, setting up a gratitude table with a book for people to thank their local firefighters and first responders.
