You probably know the neighbor who always brings in someone else's trash barrels, keeps an eye on a house while the owners are away, shovels a little farther down the sidewalk after a snowstorm, or stops to check on an older resident living alone.

They may not think much of it, but those small gestures are part of what turns a neighborhood into a community.

This September, Massachusetts residents are being encouraged to celebrate the importance of those connections as part of the Third Annual Massachusetts Good Neighbor Day. Governor Maura Healey officially proclaimed the observance, which she expanded this year into an entire weekend, Sept. 25 through 27.

The goal of Good Neighbor Day is simple: to foster connected and caring communities where no one feels invisible or left out in the neighborhood they call home. More than 30 organizations participated in the inaugural celebration, hosting events and highlighting the power of kindness, connection and community.

The Massachusetts celebration leads into National Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28, giving residents one more reason to reach out to the people who live around them.

Here in Norwood, residents can mark the occasion by getting outside and meeting some neighbors.

The Morrill Memorial Library and Norwood Trails Committee will host a Good Neighbor Day Walk & Talk on Monday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. Participants will enjoy a friendly stroll along the Bernie Cooper Riverfront Park trail. The trail is fully accessible and ADA compliant, making the event an opportunity for residents of varying abilities to participate.

Of course, being a good neighbor doesn't require attending an event or making a grand gesture.

Introduce yourself to someone new on the street. Offer to pick up something at the store for an older neighbor. Bring in a package left on someone's doorstep. Share vegetables from the garden. Keep an eye out for a lost pet. Or simply wave and say hello when you pass someone outside.

Good neighbors can be especially important during difficult times. They are often the first to notice when something isn't right, lend a hand during a power outage, check on someone during extreme weather or rally around a family experiencing a hardship.

And sometimes being a good neighbor is even simpler: keep the music down, pick up after your dog, don't block someone else's driveway and return that ladder you borrowed!

In a busy world, it can be surprisingly easy to live just a few doors away from someone and barely know them. Good Neighbor Day is a reminder that building a stronger community doesn't always require a big initiative.

Sometimes it starts by simply walking across the street and saying hello.