Shelters across the Lower Mainland provide warmth for hundreds of men, women and children every year, but often it’s not enough to keep away winter’s bitter chill. This year’s massive snowfall and high winds made the 12th Annual REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive its most challenging yet, but it only made the REALTORS® more determined to help the region’s homeless. And this year, the need was greater than ever.
From November 27 to December 4, members with the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board provided warm clothing and blankets for the homeless across B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Over a foot of snow had covered parts of the Lower Mainland forcing many roadways, businesses, and schools to close. Then, three days later – the weekend before the Blanket Drive – another massive snowstorm hit delaying the Drive by a few days. And yet, despite all of these challenges, over 11,000 REALTORS® still managed to collect an impressive 3,365 bags for those in need.
“There’s no question the weather affected people’s ability to donate but it also helped motivate the volunteers,” said Shirley Witters, a member of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “We just kept thinking about people trying to sleep outside in this and it made us work even harder,” said Witters. “The sheer number of donations is a testament to the power of people working together to give a hand to the many people in our communities who need our help” said Rick Valouche, President of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
