SARASOTA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, January 24, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In an age where technology rules and social media is king, the old-fashioned community get-together has fallen out of favor.

Where once friends and neighbors would meet regularly to discuss community-related matters or current affairs, such conversation has now gone largely digital.

Florida native Mary Ann Benigno wants to change this.

"A sense of community used to be so important, that people would live their entire lives in the same neighborhoods because they loved them too much to leave," says Benigno. "And it wasn't just the neighborhoods themselves which they loved, but the people who actually lived there."

She's got a point.

With Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat and more at our disposal, face-to-face interaction decreases year-on-year.

A recent study revealed that the average American now spends over 8 hours per day using, and communicating, via electronic devices. This is largely to the detriment of time traditionally spent with family, or conversing with friends, clients and other acquaintances in person.

In an effort to reignite our passion for community, and reinstate a sense of local camaraderie, Benigno plans to host a community BBQ for residents of her Sarasota neighborhood.

Food and soft drinks will be provided, thanks to contributions from local businesses, including a choice of vegetarian and vegan BBQ items for non-meat eaters. Those attending are encouraged to bring cakes, desserts and other snacks, which can then be shared between guests.

"Everyone's invited," Mary Ann excitedly reveals. "Young or old, from the wealthy to the less well-off, I want to bring the community together irrespective of background or other circumstances, completely without prejudice."

Sarasota's population is an aging one, with over 30% of those who live in the area aged 65 or older. By contrast, under-18s make up only 15% of the population.

It's the older generation who are typically most isolated through a lack of community, often feeling sidelined as newer generations rely more and more heavily on methods of digital and online communication.

Benigno has also tried to address this in the past, by offering computer literacy classes to senior citizens.

Of the classes and her decision to host them, Benigno said, "I know many of my peers that are senior citizens see their grandchildren zoom away on the computer and they feel left behind."

"To my absolute delight, the classes were a huge success, and I hope the community BBQ will be too," she continues. "I hope it will be the first of many!"

Eric Ash
Web Presence, LLC
941-266-8620
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