Tell us about great neighbor

Journalists are all about deadlines and ours is approaching. Wednesday has been set as the ending date of the 15th annual Spokesman-Review Good Neighbor contest. So we’re asking our readers to take the next week to sit down and write us a letter telling us about neighborhood gems.

We’re looking for neighbors who show their generosity in a variety of ways to numerous people. Shoveling driveways after it snows and getting the mail while a homeowner is on vacation are mentioned a lot by people writing to us, but we’ll also take a look at unique things a special neighbor is doing.

In the past we’ve heard about people who have organized block parties, opened their pools to neighborhood children on hot summer days or taken elderly neighbors on errands or to special events. Or perhaps your neighbor is the area mom, providing snacks and a place to hang out for neighborhood teens.

Whatever it is that makes your neighbor special, we want to hear about it. We want to honor and encourage such generosity in our residents, but we can’t do it without your help. If you have nominated a neighbor in the past who has not won, don’t be shy about entering them again. This may be your year.

Letters or e-mails should be about 250 words (see information box for address). Be specific. Tell us exactly why your neighbor deserves some recognition. Also be sure to include the name, address and telephone number of your neighbor as well as your own.

We’re looking for people who give of their time with no thought of payment. We’ll handle the payment for you in the form of block parties with the winners as the guests of honor. Each winner will also be profiled in a Voice story and receive an engraved plaque noting their status as a good neighbor.

So please, take the time to nominate your neighbor. The deadline is coming soon.