IF YOU WANT to get to know your neighbours better, what better way than cooking a meal for them?
This year’s Street Feast event will kick off on 17 June and people all over Ireland are invited to host a local lunch with their neighbours – whether they are close friends or perfect strangers.
Each Street Feast is self-organised and the idea is to bring some tables together in a common space in your community and connect with your neighbours.
Sam Bishop, one of the co-founders of the initiative, explained more:
Street Feast is about having more life on the streets/roads where you live. It’s an all-for-fun, not-for-profit, do-it-yourself celebration. It’s a perfect excuse to get to know the people who live next door or near you or right in the heart of your town, village, city or communities.
He added:
Last year’s Street Feasts encouraged thousands of people out onto their streets to share lunch with their neighbours. There’s never been a better time to get to know the people around you. The benefits of investing in your community are endless.
Barbara O’Sullivan, from Ashbourne, Co Meath was one of the many people who organised a Street Feast last year. She said it had lots of benefits for her and her neighbours:
It was brilliant and we had an absolute ball. I can see more people in the estate interacting and I, myself, am talking to people a lot more. Many of the neighbours hadn’t met before Street Feast last year, even though they have been in the estate years already themselves. There are now a number of people who go walking together, mind each other’s kids, knock in for tea together… and lots more. Personally, I can’t imagine my life without all the wonderful people in my estate.
People are encouraged to make a range of homemade dishes to share and if they visit StreetFeast.ie they will find printable posters and flyers to help them spread the word amongs their neighbours.
The site has lots of advice and ideas to inspire organisers, including information on everything from front garden parties to all-out street bashes. There is also a Facebook page for the event where people can connect with other Street Feasters.
Will you be holding a Street Feast?
