The cool temperatures of winter often make us eager to find the warmth and comfort of our homes. For some, having a warm place to stay and adequate winter clothing is a daily challenge. When the deep freeze really hits, keeping warm for these people also means staying alive.
While community groups assist as many individuals as they can, there are often not enough resources to meet the ever-growing demand. Lower Mainland REALTORS® understand this need and have been doing their part to help fill the gaps for many years.
REALTORS® with the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board have organized an annual blanket drive for the past 11 years. During the drive, members of the public are encouraged to drop off blankets, bedding, sleeping bags, tarps, winter coats, rain coats, boots, socks, gloves, mitts, hats, scarves, shoes and sweaters at various offices across the Lower Mainland. In addition, some REALTORS® canvass their communities to collect warm clothing and other items.
The 11 th annual REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive – held December 5 th to 12 th 2005 – saw more than 10,000 REALTORS® collect 3,879 bags of blankets and clothing for people in need. The totals represent an all-time high for the blanket drive and a 55 per cent increase over last year’s collection of 2,504 bags. All donations went to local charities and outreach groups across the Lower Mainland.
“It’s a great feeling helping others get warm,” said Doug Hansen, of Royal LePage Coronation West Realty in Coquitlam. “When I drop off donations at the shelters, I’m enthused to see that all of the items donated are being used by the people that need them most – people in the food lines and in detox, street kids.”
“REALTORS® want to thank the public for their incredible generosity,” said Georges Pahud, past president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. “Their contributions made the blanket drive an enormous success, and we are pleased and humbled to have been able to participate in an endeavor that helps so many people in our communities.”
