Every fall, neighbors in the White Lake area gather around one long table on Slocum Street to share a meal, good conversation, and a reminder of what it means to be part of a community. This tradition is the White Lake Community Library’s Good Neighbor Dinner, an event inspired by National Good Neighbor Day, observed each year on September 28th.
This year’s dinner—the third of its kind—will be held on Thursday, September 25th, the closest Thursday to Good Neighbor Day. Seventy-five seats will be set at one long table on Slocum Street, beside the Playhouse at White Lake, and the community is invited to join free of charge by registering through the library’s website.
Building Connections Over a Shared Meal
Unlike most community events, there is no program, speaker, or planned entertainment. Instead, the evening is dedicated to conversation and connection. Lighthearted icebreaker prompts are placed on the tables to help start conversations, but organizers say people quickly move into easy, wide-ranging discussions with their neighbors.
“What inspired me was the desire to help create community connections,” said the library’s director, Virginia DeMumbrum. “Between the pandemic and ongoing polarization, the need to simply talk with and listen to our neighbors has only grown. Watching people from across the community laughing, talking, and forming new friendships has been one of the most rewarding parts of this work.”
Photo courtesy of White Lake Community Library
Powered by Community Partners
The Good Neighbor Dinner would not be possible without the support of local partners.
- The City of Whitehall assists with street closures and helps transport tables and chairs.
- The Playhouse at White Lake provides use of their restrooms, serves as a rain site, and offers the space beside their building for setup.
- Hanson Hill Waterfront Grill will prepare this year’s meal, which will be served on beautiful place settings from Plum and Proper Dishes.
- Lebanon Lutheran Church lends tables and chairs.
The first dinner was made possible thanks to a grant from The Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Since then, the event has been sustained by donations, with costs running around $2,000 annually. To ensure its future, the library has introduced an “Adopt a Plate” option: for $20, donors can cover the cost of a meal for a neighbor at next year’s dinner.
Bone Ends – Photo courtesy of White Lake Community Library
Community Spirit in Action
The response from both attendees and local organizations has been overwhelmingly positive. Attendees consistently share how much they appreciate meeting new people in such a warm and welcoming setting. The event has even been praised in city council meetings, where leaders have remarked on its value to the community.
For organizers, one of the most memorable moments came during the very first dinner: “It was a beautiful fall evening, and as I walked along the row of tables, I could hear laughter and conversation all around me. It warmed my heart to see so many people connecting.”
An Invitation to the Table
The library hopes this annual gathering will continue to remind residents that—no matter what differences may exist—everyone is a neighbor first. “We all have so much in common, but it’s easy to lose sight of that these days,” said the director. “This dinner is about celebrating our shared humanity and building stronger community ties.”
Registration for the 2025 Good Neighbor Dinner opens on Thursday, September 11th.
All are welcome to pull up a chair, enjoy a delicious meal, and discover the simple joy of being a good neighbor.
Photos courtesy of White Lake Community Library
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