HARDWICK – The Jeudevine Memorial Library was filled to capacity with conversation and the smell of tacos on a recent Wednesday evening as residents gathered for the “Forward Together” community meal hosted by Hardwick Neighbor to Neighbor. The event brought together volunteers, families and town staff to talk about community connections, emergency readiness and what comes next for local resilience work.
photo by Mary Braun
Hardwick Neighbor to Neighbor began in 2020, during the first months of the pandemic, when a small group of volunteers organized to make sure no one in town was left on their own. They made phone calls to check on residents, delivered groceries and prescriptions, and helped neighbors stay connected during a time of isolation. It was quiet, practical work built from trust and care.
In 2023, when the July floods swept across Hardwick, the group pivoted to meet a new kind of need. With roads damaged and communication strained, volunteers checked on households, shared information, and took responsibility to manage the Emergency Supply and Support Center. The network that had formed around public health quickly adapted to support flood recovery and local coordination.
Since then, Neighbor to Neighbor has continued to work alongside the Town of Hardwick, the Jeudevine Library, and local organizations to carry forward the lessons learned from both the pandemic and the floods. The “Forward Together” gathering was an opportunity to reconnect, share food, and plan for the year ahead.
Inside the Parker Ladd Memorial Room, long tables filled quickly. Families, volunteers, and town staff sat together, talking easily about recovery, outreach, and volunteer projects on the horizon. The tone was collaborative and forward-looking, focused on maintaining the relationships that make local response possible.
“What a night! Delighted to see Hardwick brimming with positive energy,” said organizer Mary Braun, who helped coordinate the event.
“Once again, Hardwick and area residents turned out in spades to learn more about HNtN and to pursue volunteer opportunities that strengthen our ability to best care for one another, during a disaster situation and throughout all the blue-sky days in between,” added organizer Helen Beattie. “The spirit of community was palpable.”
As the evening went on, conversations turned toward what’s next; how to keep volunteer momentum going, how to share information more easily between neighborhoods, and how to continue strengthening Hardwick’s ability to respond quickly when needed. The atmosphere was practical and optimistic, reflecting a town that knows recovery and preparedness are ongoing work.
By the time the tables were cleared, new plans were taking shape for volunteer outreach, preparedness sessions, and more community gatherings in the coming months. “Forward Together” served as both a theme and a reflection of how the town continues to move ahead, through food, conversation, and the steady presence of neighbors who are willing to show up for one another.
Kristen Leahy is the Hardwick resilience and adaptation coordinator.
