During the 2011 REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive, approximately 19,000 people from across the Lower Mainland benefited from the contributions distributed through local charities. Since its start in 1995, more than 185,000 people have received clothing or a blanket from this annual drive.
Members of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, and the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board work together to deliver the largest, longest-running charitable blanket and warm clothing collection in the Lower Mainland.
“Many people in our community who are struggling financially will be blessed and warm this winter because of the Blanket Drive,” said Lorraine Pilling, clothing co-op manager at Higher Ground Ministry, a charitable organization in Port Coquitlam.
The largest recipient charity in Surrey, NightShift Street Ministries, is an organization that offers outreach services to the homeless including food, clothing, and counselling.
“We anticipate the hundreds of bags of coats and blankets we received this year will provide a change of clothes and a fresh blanket to every client who needs it until April 2012,” said MaryAnne Connor, founder/president of Nightshift Ministries.“This donation program is an integral part of our mission to assist those in need.”
Donations collected by Chilliwack and District volunteers were distributed to Ruth and Naomi’s Mission, Chilliwack; the Joshua Project, Hope; and Agassiz-Harrison Community Services, Agassiz.
Across the Lower Mainland, people generously support the Blanket Drive. Individual people, corporations, retailers, community groups, and schools all partner with local REALTORS® to collect quality items.
