Your neighbor who volunteers at the library, civic-minded scouts and the Little League coach in your community may not seem to have much in common at first glance.

But Patch’s new initiative, Count Us In, aspires to bring together all Good Samaritans by highlighting residents who are exemplary at making your community a more positive place.

Melrose is a giving community, as is evident by the many dedicated volunteers in town, as well as the charitible groups, organizations and centers that can be found in the city.

The Servant's Hear Food Pantry, churches and other nonprofit organizations in city are at the heart of this charitable community. The schools, public and private, often partner with organizations in the city to host initiatives such as coat and food drives, as well as providing meals to the less fortunate. The Post Office, Fire Department and Police Department also participate in fundraisers such as food drives and Toys for Tots.

Partnering with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC), Count Us In aims to illustrate HPHC's values. They believe that “amazing things happen when people work together” and that is why we want to share stories about just that.

If you know someone who exemplifies being a good neighbor, volunteer or teacher—or someone who has simply helped the community in an inspiring way—please tell us about it in the comments section below. Your local editor will keep an eye on the conversation and will be writing articles about all of the amazing people and stories you share.

We welcome all great stories coming from great people in the community.