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The Rodgers Forge neighborhood in Baltimore, MD has a particularly strong sense of community, culminating with a Nextdoor website of hundreds of neighbors.
But this fall, their sense of community was strengthened even more thanks to a single post on Nextdoor. Nan Fitzgerald, a Rodgers Forge resident and a social worker, knew of a family that had moved to the area to live with family members due to financial hardship. The family had several children, and in the rush of the move their toys had been left behind. Just a few building blocks remained.
The parents were overwhelmed by the move, getting settled in their new home, and working to make ends meet, so new toys weren’t in the kid’s immediate future. That’s when Nan decided to step in, posting on Nextdoor to ask for donations of gently used toys to give to the family.
“The toys weren’t leftovers from a yard sale,” says Nan. “They’re quality toys, most in pristine or very gently used condition.”
So many brand new toys were donated that Nan worked with the parents to set aside many of the new toys for Christmas presents, with plenty of gently used toys for the kids to enjoy right away.
“I’m filled with such gratitude and hope for the family,” Nan says. “This is truly a story about the generosity, love, and support that our community is willing and capable of.”
Do you have a story about how you’ve used Nextdoor in your neighborhood? Let us know.
Originally reporte by the Towson Times.
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