For the first time in its 17-year history, a video blog told the REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive story, from the perspective of the volunteers, charities, and community partners who make it happen.
From the hands of the initial donor to the final hand-off to someone in need, every Blanket Drive item travels a long journey. The video blog provides a glimpse into that journey.
Volunteers tell about how they get communities involved in the Blanket Drive. For example, Richmond REALTOR® Jan Rankin helps local schools raise awareness of the Blanket Drive among students.
“Each school manages the program differently, but it’s usually the older kids (grade 6 and 7) who take charge,” says Rankin. “They take responsibility for the program themselves, and a lot of them take great pride in it.”
At Covenant House Vancouver, you see where donations go and what the donations mean to the people they help. You also hear about the work they do to prepare the donations they receive.
“People literally show up here with just the clothes on their backs,” says Michelle Clausius, Associate Director of Development and Communications. “Sometimes it’s as simple as getting them a fresh pair of underwear and a pair of pyjamas so they can get a good night’s sleep.”
You hear from REALTORS® like Don MacKay, one of the original Blanket Drive volunteers, about what prompted him to get involved way back in 1995.
Other blog episodes include how organizations in the community partner with the Blanket Drive—how a local business woman collects $70,000 of new clothing in donations and why the Vancouver Police Department uses Blanket Drive donations.
All episodes were posted on the Blanket Drive’s website and Facebook page, and a tweet from each board’s Twitter account was sent when a new video was released.
To view the video blog, please visit www.blanketdrive.ca or www.facebook.com/blanketdrive.
