​A balmy Saturday morning greeted about 7 volunteers to Sharon's home in Newark.  This home is the first Delaware project since the Board voted to expand into New Castle County this fall.  Last year, Good Neighbors completed 150 projects, or 3 each week, in Chester County.

The volunteers plus the Good Neighbors' staff held hands in a circle with the home owner to dedicate the day to God and these repairs to Sharon so that she can live "warmer, safer, drier and healthier".

Immediately, the team fanned out to remove drafty windows, repair a leaky roof, and extracted a sliding glass door that would not open, but it let rain water in.

Some volunteers were new; some skilled and others less so, but they worked together as if they were old friends.  While the outside work was progressing, Sharon was inside cooking up chili, cornbread and pasta for a sumptuous lunch.  While she was cooking, Sharon shared her story which included broken relationships with financial calamity.  There is always the "story inside the story" when a homeowner needs our help.

Throughout the day, Sharon would walk around and marvel and exclaim, "No one has ever done anything like this for me; I was beginning to lose hope in the human race."

Good Neighbors helps to restore hope by repairing homes.  We do this through partners who want to give their time, talent and treasure and to do their part in improving people's lives.

We have another project coming up in a few weeks and we hope to be able to do even more homes in New Castle County next your.

For now, though, we are grateful to be willing and able hands for our Master.

by Harold Naylor, Executive Director

​A few weeks ago I was approached by a Good Neighbors friend and donor who asked, "How do I make a gift to the ministry by giving stock?"   I knew we had a procedure (see below), but I realized that it had not been well communicated.

Giving the gift of appreciated stock is a great way of blessing our home repair work while giving you, the donor, a wonderful and impactful gift.  If your stock has a basis of $500, but has appreciated to $1,000, you will owe capital gains tax on the $500 increase in value.  In contrast, if you gift the stock to Good Neighbors (or any other non-profit), the entire amount of $1,000 is a deductible gift.

The detailed procedure is as simple as giving your broker the DTC number (0226) and our account number (AAU030528) and having them transfer the shares that you desire to give. 

Thank you in advance for your generosity in helping us restore hope by repairing homes.  Our work is especially critical these days as the weather gets colder and home heating is critical.  God bless you and please call us if we can help you with other support ideas.