Belonging Isn’t an Accident: What Makes a Community Feel Like Home?
I’d only been at New Hope a few days when I ran into her.
It was near the end of the day at the Community Closet. Most customers had already left, and the store was preparing to close. She showed up with quiet purpose—not to shop or drop off donations, but to clean a few spots on the carpet where something had been spilled earlier.
For her, it wasn’t about the cleaning. It was about the people. It was about presence. About creating a space of welcome and togetherness—where dignity is felt in the details and community is built one act of care at a time.
She’s been volunteering with New Hope for years—through seasons, challenges, and changes—not out of obligation, but out of love. Love for her neighbors. Love for the staff she serves alongside. And love for the simple, shared work of doing life together.
That moment has stayed with me.
Because it wasn’t about the stain on the carpet.
It was about belonging.
A Feeling—and a Practice
When people say they want to “feel at home,” they’re not just talking about comfort or familiarity. They’re talking about… safety. Connection. Welcome without condition. And while it’s tempting to think of belonging as something that just “happens,” the truth is—it doesn’t.
Belonging is built.
It’s cultivated, moment by moment, by the way we greet someone at the door.
By the presence of people who remember your name.
By a clean, warm space that says: you matter enough to make this place beautiful.
At New Hope, we don’t just hope people feel like they belong.
We practice it.
What Makes a Place Feel Like Home?
I’ve been asking this question of our neighbors.
And the answers aren’t complex—but they are profound:
“It’s when someone looks happy to see you walk through the door.”
— Local Pastor
“We keep a bulletin board in the store with pictures of our customers’ kids, church announcements, job leads. It’s nothing fancy—but it shows we care about what happens after people leave.”
— Small Business Owner
“For me, it is when I don’t have to explain why I’m having a hard time. They just listen.”
— Local Parent
The thread that ties all of these together?
Intentional presence.
When people feel like they’re seen without having to earn it—that’s home.
Belonging Isn’t Accidental—It’s Strategic
This isn’t just feel-good language. It’s foundational.
Belonging is a predictor of health outcomes, educational achievement, and resilience. And for a community to thrive, it has to be designed to support belonging.
At New Hope, that design shows up in many ways:
A counseling center where people are received with grace and confidentiality.
A thrift store where no one’s dignity is compromised by need.
A culture among staff and volunteers that says: “You matter, whether you’re here to give or to receive.”
As a ministry, we see New Hope as more than a place—it’s a common thread.
A sacred space that stitches people together across life experiences, challenges, and roles. And like any good stitch, it holds—not by force, but by care.
A Practice for the Upcoming Week: 3 Ways to Weave Belonging
Want to create more belonging in your corner of our community? Try this:
Name + Notice. Greet someone by name this week—and mention something you noticed about them.
(Example: “It’s good to see you again—how’s your grandson doing?”)Open a Circle. Invite someone new into a regular rhythm—lunch with coworkers, a volunteer shift, or even a walk you usually take alone.
Reflect Together. Ask someone this question: What makes a place feel like home to you? Then really listen.
These aren’t grand gestures. But small stitches are what make the thread hold.
A Final Word
As I begin this new season at New Hope, my posture is one of listening—because I believe the answers we need are already alive in the people around us.
If you have a story of belonging—or of longing for it—I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s keep weaving a community where everyone knows:
You belong here.
By Sheila Derr | Executive Director