Every year, long before the weather shifts, many members are already thinking ahead to giving back to their communities through the annual REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive. In 2015, this tradition carried on with some new developments.
This year from November 16 to 23, 35 brokerages and 37 REALTOR® volunteers across the Fraser Valley said they would “make it work” despite the unseasonably busy real estate market. Together, they collected a total of 1,050 bags of donations for 22 Fraser Valley charities. That’s less than last year’s total of 1,265 and less than in other years but the volunteers said they noticed some new trends this year.
Lorraine Cauley is the volunteer Area Leader for the South Surrey/White Rock team. “The community support was amazing! We did not have a place to sort the donations as in previous years but one of our local REALTORS® offered his basement and garage. He even treated the sorting team to pizza. It was a class act with open arms. We so appreciated it.”
In Surrey, Area Leader Sheila Potter says, “The number of donations was down but I really noticed that people put a lot of thought into what they gave, as if they really thought about what they would like to receive for themselves.
“We collected a ton of new stuff like packs of new underwear and socks that don’t take up as much space in our bags and the charities received quite a few high quality items this year.”
Regardless of the number of bags collected each year, the Board’s volunteers feel a strong sense of accomplishment when helping with the Drive because they’re making a noticeable difference in their communities.
“No matter how many bags we accumulate, we know we’ve made a difference in at least one person’s life. That’s why I help out almost every year,” says long time Blanket Drive volunteer Michele Cartwright.
Volunteers continue to pick up and deliver donations for up to a week after the Drive officially ends, but even then, sometimes the donations keep coming.
If you or your clients still have donations to contribute, please drop them off at one of the Blanket Drive charities. Find a list at www.blanketdrive.ca.
Check out our 2015 photos on our Blanket Drive Facebook page.
Thank you to all members, volunteers and offices for supporting the 21st Annual Blanket Drive!