“Tractor Dick”
Light Painting by Bill Sargent
My neighborhood is cooler than your neighborhood. OK, maybe it’s not, but I could make a strong case for it.
We have a local legend here by the name of “Tractor Dick”. Tractor Dick is loved by our neighborhood. Obviously, as his nickname indicates, he has a thing about tractors. Dick has turned that love and passion into an asset for the neighborhood; both kids and grownups alike.
On any given night, you may hear the sound of his tractor rolling down the street with his custom built haywagon in tow, filled with families enjoying fellowship and a nice night out cruising the neighborhood.
Dick loves to decorate the wagon for each specific season with a super-special treatment for our Christmas Parade.
So, why is this important to you? I want the following to inspire you.
A couple of years ago, our neighborhood association and Tractor Dick got together with the inspiration of collecting food in November for our neighborhood food pantry. The effort was dubbed “The Haywagon Food Drive”.
Our first year, we collected just over 2,000 pounds of food. Last year, we doubled that to over 4,000 pounds!
It gave our neighborhood the opportunity to come together, associate, build relationships and goodwill among neighbors, all while doing something good for to help others. It has become quite festive.
Flyers are distributed with the announcement in advance. On the day of the event, people walk along the streets collecting the food and load it into the haywagon. The haywagon then delivers the goods to the food pantry where it is weighed, and the shelves are stocked.
The cheerful neighbors then revel in their accomplishment and enjoy each other’s company. They also enjoy hot dogs, brats, chips, cookies, hot chocolate, soda and coffee.
“We don’t have a Tractor Dick and we don’t have a haywagon. What can we do?”
I am so glad you asked that. Do you have neighbors, a neighborhood, hand pulled wagons? How about a trailer pulled behind a car or truck or a pickup truck? Use your imagination. Be creative.
Make your neighborhood special in its own way. Meet neighbors who, up until now, have been strangers. Make your corner of the world a special better place. You can do it.
Watch the video and you’ll see what I mean >>>
