Nola Renney might be one of the biggest champions the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive has ever seen. The Aldergrove resident is a founding member of the Aldergrove Needlecraft Club, which has met up for some years now every Thursday afternoon at the Aldergrove library to knit blankets and toques to provide warmth for the less fortunate during these cold winter months. A few years ago, Nola read about the Blanket Drive in the local newspaper and began sending the Club’s efforts to RE/MAX Aldercentre Realty to be included in the annual campaign. Wanting to support such great work, before this year’s Drive got underway the realty office’s administrator Stacey VanderVelde thought it would be a good idea to connect FVREB with Nola and her Club.
‘Great work’ might be an understatement because these are no ordinary blankets – they are works of art! The time and effort is considerable – between 20 and 30 hours to create just one blanket – and the love and care in each design only adds to the warmth it brings to those in need. In all, the Club donated over 25 blankets and 40 toques to this year’s campaign, adding to the many scores already donated over the years. Nola says they’re already planning for next year and may add gloves or mittens to the repertoire. New members with crocheting or knitting skills are always welcome, and so are donations of yarn (the FVREB donated 25 lbs to the group this year!).
Nola and her Club represent the generosity we find throughout the entire Fraser Valley, and which has helped make the annual Blanket Drive a success every year.
In addition to supporting the 28th Annual REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive, the FVREB continued its tradition of donating to local food banks. On behalf of our 4,900+ members, the Board donated $25,000 to six food banks in the communities where REALTORS® of the Fraser Valley live, work and play.
- Langley Food Bank – $3,500
- Surrey Food Bank – $12,500
- Surrey Food Bank (North Delta) – $1,750
- Sources White Rock/South Surrey – $1,750
- Archway Abbotsford Food Bank – $3,750
- St. Joseph’s Food Bank (Mission) – $1,750
Thank you to all our members and brokers who responded so generously to this year’s campaign. We’re already looking ahead to next year’s event – and if you know anyone with spare yarn or knitting skills and would like to support Nola and her amazing crew, please contact vanessa.cheng@fvreb.bc.ca.