In January 2024 the Canadian Real Estate Association launched REALTORS Care® Days, a series of hands-on volunteering initiatives in support of housing and shelter-related charities taking place across Canada.
From creating care packages for youth experiencing homelessness, to building affordable housing, more than 175 REALTORS® worked to make an impact on causes important to their communities this spring. Here’s how they went.
Baking love into every bite
On April 3, 2024 the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton (RAE) held their REALTORS Care® Day in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta (RMHC). REALTORS® in Edmonton channeled their favourite chefs and cooked up healthy meals for families trying to build a home away from home while their children undergo medical treatment.
“I think today’s experience has been awesome. The donations that I make through the REALTORS® Community Foundation help to support charities like this,” said James Mabey, CREA’s 2024-2025 Chair and broker based in Edmonton. “We just couldn’t be happier to see the difference that it’s making for a facility like this and to bring people together around the kitchen table as REALTORS® often do.”
By the end of the day, volunteers served 80 meals and packed the remaining healthy leftovers into the fridges for families to enjoy. REALTORS® in Edmonton are strong supporters of RMHC Alberta. In December 2023 the REALTORS® Community Foundation made a $10,000 donation to the organization for the ongoing operations of the Edmonton House programs and services (the equivalent of 50 nights worth of stay for families in need).
Food banks supplied through the toughest months
With the rising cost of living, many Canadians are now turning to food banks for a helping hand. On May 1, 2024 the Woodstock Ingersoll Tillsonburg and Area Association of REALTORS® (WITAAR) hosted their event, the REALTORS Care® Food Drive supporting local Salvation Army food banks. While it was their first official REALTORS Care® Day, WITAAR has hosted this event on the first Wednesday of every May since 2011 to help support members of their communities struggling with food security.
The food drive, which was founded by Canadian REALTORS Care® Award 2024 recipient Kelly Byers, continues to grow each year. The 2024 iteration collected 38,000 pounds of food and had routes across Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, Sweaburg, Innerkip, and Embro. Since its inception, the REALTORS Care® Food Drive has provided more than 288,000 pounds of food to Salvation Army food banks in Woodstock, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg.
The timing of the REALTORS Care® Food Drive is very purposeful. With food banks busiest times for donations coming around the holiday season, as the calendar shifts closer to summer, their shelves tend to be at their emptiest. The 38,000 pounds of food received will ensure local Salvation Army food banks can provide for those struggling with food security until the busy holiday season later this year.
Youth facing homelessness receive care packages and funding
Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS® (WRAR) held their event on May 2, 2024 to support their charity partner, oneROOF Youth Services, which provides for the safety, support and overall well-being of youth who are experiencing homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness. They kicked off a week-long fundraising initiative, the REALTOR® Run, a self-paced fundraising run or walk, which raises funds and awareness for oneROOF.
In addition, volunteers put together 115 care kits which will be given to youth when they arrive at oneROOF. To get REALTOR® Run participants in the spirit of giving, fundraising activities, including a raffle with prizes ranging from concert tickets to a barbecue, took place throughout the morning, raising $3,855 for oneROOF.
“It’s humbling, to have Waterloo Region Association of REALTORS® support us in the way that they do,” said Bonnie Kropf, oneROOF Fund Developer. “It goes above and beyond the monetary donations, it’s the in-kind support and the awareness that’s being created for oneROOF Youth.”
55 families get one step closer to homeownership
On June 13, 2024 more than 40 members of the Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA) traded in their “for sale” signs for steel-toed boots and hard hats, spending a day volunteering in support of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba’s largest-ever build, the Pandora Avenue West development.
The Manitoba REALTORS® Shelter Foundation has established a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, entitled REALTORS Care® About Habitat for Humanity, and pledged to raise $100,000 in 2024 to support the Pandora Avenue West project in Winnipeg.
“As a REALTOR®, I’m involved with people’s homes on a daily basis,” explained Joel Green, Vice-Chair of the Manitoba REALTORS® Shelter Foundation, when asked about the potential impact of their partnership. “I see the opportunity to contribute to create a ripple effect, in fact a generational effect into the future, for our community.”
The development spans 11 blocks and will total 55 affordable townhomes by 2026. They will house approximately 275 people, including 175 children. The organization is also ensuring this community can thrive, sustainably, for the long-term, as each Pandora Avenue West home is designed to be exceptionally energy efficient and, when completed, will have a carbon-free zero footprint.
You can learn more about past and upcoming REALTORS Care® Days at REALTORSCareDays.ca. If you’re interested in getting involved, speak with your board or association to find out what’s planned in your region.
