Be the Neighbor

Be The Neighbor is a Fort Worth-based nonprofit equips people to live lives of love, service, and justice!  Your donation will help empower young people to grow into the kind of person you are - one who is committed to loving your neighbors and making your community a place where everyone is safe, loved, and has what they need to thrive!

This summer we welcomed over 700 youth and adults to 10 cities throughout the United States, including both Dallas and Fort Worth. In each location, they learned how to partner with their communities through service and justice with best practices that are relational, sustainable, and dignity-affirming. They were able to learn and serve with local nonprofits, educators, advocates, and community leaders who work each day to make their neighborhoods better for everyone.  

In just 7 weeks this summer participants served over 28,000 hours in their communities. They learned the systemic nature of the things that affect them and their neighbors and how to address and change them. However, our goal is less about what they do when they are with us and more about what they do when go home.  Thanks to you and supporters like you they have already gone home to love their neighbors in new ways!  We have heard from 2023 summer participants that they have started a prom dress closet in their community to make sure all kids can feel great at special school events no matter their families financial resources, others have begun community gardens, helped resettle refugee families, set up an apartment for a family transitioning out of homelessness, advocated for an affordable grocery store in their neighborhood at a city council meeting, and so much more!

Your donation to North Texas Giving Day, will help youth and adults from North Texas congregations to learn about how they can make a difference in our community and help youth and adults from outside of North Texas to learn about the issues impacting our communities and what area nonprofits are doing to combat those issues. Our Dallas and Fort Worth sites will focus on teaching about Refugee Welcome, Hunger Relief, and Urban Poverty.  

You will make a way for youth from across the country to come and serve with and learn from a number of partner nonprofits right here in our community including: Catholic Charities, Children's Closet, DRC Housing Solutions, Hope Supply Company, International Newcomers Academy, Jubilee Garden, KWC Performing Arts, Neighborhood Needs, North Dallas Shared Ministry, Opals Farm, Presbyterian Night Shelter, Prom Dreams, Seeds of Faith, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Welman Project,  WestAid, World Relief, and more!

Hear the impact from some of our 2023 participants on their Be The Neighbor experience:

"At Be The Neighbor I grew and changed in my perspective on a lot of things. I really connected with the definitions of service and justice. I knew what those words meant and knew they were important, but this really helped me understand the bigger picture of how they go together"

"At Be the Neighbor I gained more empathy and understanding of people who are homeless. Seeing the others as individuals not stereotypes. I feel more empowered to do something to bring change"

"My mind was shifted at Be The Neighbor to think of the needs in our community in a different way. It’s like I had my eyes closed and this week, they were opened"

"I learned the need to work toward food distribution to everyone. My group has learned so many ways to provide equity/dignity affirming resources through serving and justice."

"I learned the idea of dignity affirming justice work, I had never thought about the side of justice work and what that would look like in action."

"I learned the power of listening, of community, and even more about what can be done when we see each other as ' neighbors"

Be The Neighbor is faith-based related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Christ and works alongside people of many denominations, religions and the secular community. We are LGBTQIA+ open and affirming and committed to working towards anti-racism and equity for all.