From the Ladner seniors who fundraised to buy socks to students gathering donations in Richmond, the 18th annual REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive collected blankets and warm clothing to help over 19,000 working poor and homeless people across the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Hundreds of real estate offices acted as drop-off locations during the November 26 – December 3 event. Volunteer REALTORS® collected, sorted and delivered thousands of donations to over three-dozen charities from Whistler to Hope.
Of the charities that benefit from the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive, the Richmond Salvation Army is among those that receive a significant volume. For years, it has received enough donations to help provide warm clothing during the winter for an increasing number of clients.
“Without donations from the Blanket Drive, we would not be able to provide essential clothing and blankets to many families in our community,” said Major Mary Smith, pastor. “Unfortunately, the demand becomes greater each year, especially where children are concerned.”
The Squamish Helping Hands Society organizes a variety of shelter and food programs to assist those in need and is a recipient charity of the Blanket Drive.
“The blanket and clothing donations we get not only help our clients, the act of giving itself recognizes a much deeper understanding of the human need there is in our communities and how important it is for us to take care of each other,” said Maureen Mackell, Executive Director.
Since 1994, the Blanket Drive has grown to become the largest collection of its kind in the Lower Mainland assisting more than 205,000 people over those years.
Donations come from REALTORS®, their clients, the general public, corporations, retailers, community groups and schools. Everyone works together to make the Blanket Drive a success.
