As you know, we held an online fundraiser for the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive instead of a clothing and blanket drive last year to reduce the risks related to COVID-19.
NightShift Street Ministries, one of the Surrey charities we have supported for many years and again through our 2020 campaign, recently shared how our financial support helped them when they really needed us.
Early in the new year, NightShift contacted us to express gratitude to you, our members for supporting their organization’s outreach, 365 nights per year, to people struggling with homelessness, poverty, addiction and mental illness. They said they could not do what they do without the generous help of local corporate and community groups like the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.
In a message to FVREB, Development Manager Keri Vermeulen said, “Wow, a huge thank you to all the wonderful donors from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board for the 2020 REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive. We were amazed and so grateful for the very generous December donation of $1,903! This means so much to us, and the people in need we serve everyday.”
Some volunteers and members doubted last year that we could still effectively help our charities without the clothing or blankets we had been collecting for 25 years. Still, others had doubts that we could raise enough funds to support 26 charities. The positive feedback from NightShift challenges that perception. Every donation helps, no matter how big or small.
Although NightShift appreciated all the coats and blankets donated by REALTORS® in past years, our 2020 financial donation could not have arrived at a better time! Just before Christmas, their “Taste of Heaven” food truck had mechanical problems and broke down during one of their hot meal outreaches. The cost to repair their food truck was $1,800 – which of course was an expense they weren’t prepared for.
Along came a timely and very much needed donation from our REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive of $1,903 in December. NightShift is extremely grateful for our donation because the funds helped them save their Christmas time outreach meals. They were able to complete the urgent repairs on the food truck. That also meant that they could continue to provide their nightly outreach meals to hundreds of people in need in both Surrey and Langley.
If you are interested in learning more about NightShift’s activities, their staff would be happy to give any REALTORS® a socially-distanced tour or answer any questions. Their “Taste of Heaven” food truck is also a social enterprise project and can cater events in the warmer months.
Thank you again for supporting the 2020 REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive, your donation really helped.
Now is always a good time to show support for others
We know that many of our members make the time to volunteer and show support for people in their communities. For example, FVREB member Darrell Poetker participated in “The Coldest Night of the Year” walk last February. The event is a family-friendly walk that helps to raise money for charities serving hungry, homeless and hurting people in communities across Canada.
This year, Chris Shields will be joining this walk on February 20 together with thousands of Canadians across the country. Will you be joining Chris? If so, please let us know.
No matter which cause you choose to support, please take some time this year to support others and show that REALTORS® care.
Source: FVREB Communications