'Say Hi' Campaign Breaks Goal in Waltham

After a week of community events, Waltham strengthened its community relationships by giving more than 2,600 ‘hi’ greetings for people who had not previously met their neighbor.

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, an organization that assists domestic violence victims, recorded 2,654 greetings as part of it’s Say Hi To Your Neighbors campaign intended to build and strengthen relationships among Waltham residents.

The campaign kicked off on Feb. 5 and ended Feb. 16.

“The week started off with a perfect way to bring neighbors together, a blizzard. Neighbors came together to say hello for the first time in a while, to commiserate about the snow, and to check on one another. These connections make a difference. Throughout the rest of the week while we were out saying ‘Hi,’ we met people whose lives are affected by domestic violence, who told us stories of their own experiences or of family and friends who have experienced it.  REACH has direct services for people who need help, and each of us can help by being a resource to build community and look out for one another. Saying Hi helps build those connections and we hope people continue to reach out to their neighbors in these small ways,” said REACH Community Organization Allison Berry in a statement.

Several local businesses including Shopper’s Café and others held events to help the campaign.

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FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS RELEASE

WALTHAM RESIDENTS TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Local agency encourages more than 2,500 neighborly greetings

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, a nonprofit agency serving abuse survivors and engaging communities to prevent domestic violence, held Waltham’s second annual “Say Hi To Your Neighbors Week” from February 9-16. The goal was to help prevent domestic violence and build community in Waltham by encouraging people to look out for one another and decreasing isolation.  Organizers held a kickoff event at Back Pages Books on Tuesday February 5^th, and sponsored various activities throughout the week.  They handed out free cups of coffee at the train station, worked with In A Pickle restaurant to enable residents to send “Hi” cupcakes to neighbors, and tracked the location of each greeting through a map on the REACH website.  The organization set a goal of 2,013 “Hi”s, and exceeded that goal by more than 600.

REACH Community Organizer Allison Berry says, “The week started off with a perfect way to bring neighbors together, a blizzard.  Neighbors came together to say hello for the first time in a while, to commiserate about the snow, and to check on one another.  These connections make a difference. Throughout the rest of the week while we were out saying ‘Hi,’ we met people whose lives are affected by domestic violence, who told us stories of their own experiences or of family and friends who have experienced it.  REACH has direct services for people who need help, and each of us can help by being a resource to build community and look out for one another. Saying Hi helps build those connections and we hope people continue to reach out to their neighbors in these small ways.”

Local businesses like In A Pickle, Back Pages Books, and Shopper’s Café were part of the effort.  Media correspondents from the Waltham News Tribune, Waltham Patch, the Boston Globe, and WCAC helped to spread the word to readers and viewers across Waltham and beyond. Local groups such as Waltham City Council, Waltham Rotary Club, Waltham Woman’s Club, Waltham High Peer Leaders, and the Stanley Senior Center celebrated by saying Hi together. Local churches and organizations made announcements, passed out Hi Cards, and hung Say Hi to Your Neighbors Week posters to involve the greater Waltham community.

REACH (Refuge, Education, Advocacy, and Change) helps more than 6,000 people a year through support services and prevention and education programs.