"We have become increasingly more disconnected, divided, isolated and lonely" said Tammy Claughton, founder of The Porch Movement. With a lifetime of serving others, Tammy saw the need for bringing neighbors together to specifically address the Loneliness Epidemic. The Surgeon General identified the “Epidemic of Loneliness” as a mental health crisis. There are a lot of people affected by loneliness, which is defined as being alone and not liking it.

 

The Porch Movement, a 501(c)(3) organization, was created to make human connections by building one porch at a time. Porch environments come in all settings and sizes: a person’s home, a coffee shop, fire-pit, nature walk, crafts and other activities. In the last six months the Porch Movement saw 700 people come out to connect. One of the motivating factors for Tammy is that connected people become great neighbors. We’ve lost some of this in our Society. All of us can get started by connecting with your neighbors - just by waving. Tammy cited a study that said if you wave or say hello to at least six of your neighbors a day, that improves your mental and physical health. Test it out…it creates a friendlier environment where you live. 

The Porch Movement sees the solution to epidemic loneliness is to build “one porch” at a time. There are two simple methods to do this: 

1. Encourage individuals in their own neighborhood to identify one, two or maybe three people to invite over for coffee, appetizer, game night, etc., where the only agenda is to get to know your neighbor. 
2. Open Porches These are public porches (parks, coffee shops, etc). A public setting for other people to come together, connect, be seen, heard and valued. No agenda other than building community.  The meetings are as general as possible — everyone’s situation is unique —people can share as much or as little as they want. The Porch Movement does provide training for Hosts to create a positive dialogue (even politics) in a respective manner. 

The Porch Movement started in the Carson area over a year ago and hopes to create an organization that can be replicated nationwide. The Porch Movement has a goal of having a location, a coffee house, that will be a Sample Porch where people can come and experience the environment and hopefully feel inspired to go out into their community and connect with their neighbors and friends. They have a Porch Movement fundraiser Bowl-a-Thon & Silent Auction December 3rd from 1 - 4 pm at the Home Grown Bowl in Carson City.