Connecting Neighbors to Community Resources
“Where’s the dancing,” a resident says, jokingly. The beginning of fall is forgiving in early October even at noon as residents meet outside their apartments to gather for another year of Neighbors Together. Another resident asks, “do you like the Cowboys?” A resounding nod comes from both the residents and the Merced employees that were on-site to help give out resource bags—who would dare say “no” to a question like that?
Throughout the week of October 3rd through October 7th, Merced hosted Neighbors Together events for residents at its multi-family communities. Resident services coordinators (RSC) worked for weeks ahead of the events to compile resource sheets and flyers, as well as to secure vendors to host tables at their on-site Neighbors Together events. But the dedicated work does not stop at flyers and phone calls.
At Casitas de Villa Corona, resident services coordinator Natalia created an ‘80s-themed experience for the older adult residents living at the senior community. Amid the entertaining demands of “raise the volume” during a Madonna or Journey song, was also a lot of silence—the taco bar was a success! Residents quietly ate serving after serving of fresh tacos and rice, accompanied by beans, nachos, and all the fixings. After the event, residents went home with commemorative photos of the party and bags filled with valuable resources.
“It is important for the RSC to assess the resident needs and identify, locate, and navigate through which resources will better assist them at that given time,” says Marta, Resident Services Program Manager. She adds that these resources “can be anywhere from finding a food pantry, utility and rental assistance, or applying for a certain service they may need.”
DeeAnn, the resident services coordinator at Artisan at Willow Springs, knows she can count on her volunteers year after year to put on a great Neighbors Together bash. Complete with corn hole, snacks, inflatable Halloween decorations, and even zombie yoga, Artisan at Willow Springs was bumping to DJ tunes and laughter from all of the residents. For DeeAnn and the residents at Willow Springs, Neighbors Together has become synonymous with a big Halloween party where community partners like Credit Human and Project Quest come out and bring fun activities and helpful resources to families. The San Antonio Police Department was among the community partners making an appearance at the annual Neighbors Together event.
In 2020, the San Antonio Police Department began to transition from the City’s participation in National Night Out to creating their own annual event. This event came to be known as San Antonio Neighbors Together and according to the official website “[focuses] on fostering local police-community relationships, connecting neighborhoods with key city departments, crime prevention tips and the opportunity to get more involved in their neighborhoods and community.” While police-community relationships are still a focus of Neighbors Together, these events have also become an opportunity to bring community partners and resources to residents.
“As years have passed, the importance of crime prevention within the community is still a part of the event, but the Covid-19 pandemic has made it entirely different,” DeeAnn says as she reflects on her many years of hosting National Night Out and now Neighbors Together events. “To me, residents are in need of programs to help lower the cost burdens of their households. The most basic necessities like food, clothing, and bus passes have become an everyday need. As an RSC, [Neighbors Together] is an opportunity to pass on important resources,” DeeAnn adds.
The opportunity to give residents referrals to vital resources and to connect them to community partners will not end any time soon. Throughout the year, Merced’s Resident Services team looks forward to bringing more meals, resource bags, and maybe even another ‘80’s themed party to the 1,715+ families it serves. Finding it difficult to summarize the importance of events like Neighbors Together and the necessity to connect families to community resources, Marta says, “This will allow the families to thrive.”