Giving Back to My Community in the Inland Empire
I grew up seeing that volunteering was important and my mother always seemed to belong to some many organizations who were helping others; American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Riverside Women's Club, Elk's Club, the church and the list went on and on.....
So when I moved to San Bernardino County I saw that many needed assistance here. I have tried to help financially wherever I could and to volunteer my time as much as possible.
Christmas Events- Every year I buy several Boy and Girl Toys and wrap them up and take them to the ABC Toy Giveaway that Garth Kemp does at Mathis Brothers in Ontario. It is so important to make sure every child have a few toys under the tree on Christmas morning. I like they way they do it as the toys collected in this county are distributed to the kids in this county and not somewhere else.
Thanksgiving Giveaway- Our Board of Realtors Association saves money all year and has fundraisers to buy supplies to give 3,000 families in our communites a complete Thanksgiving Day meal. The giveaways happen in Redlands, Beaumont, and Yucaipa and we divide all the food up for 3 days; canned foods, fresh vegetables, and a huge frozen turkey. I always volunteer to help with the giveaways for at least two of the days. We have so many Realtors involved now that we have to stand in line to pass out the food. Plus I blog about this event on ActiveRain and amazingly enough I get calls and emails from people who want to attend to get the meal fixings. I try and do my part.
East Valley Association of Realtors- I am the Chairperson for the Membership Committe for the past three years. I am also on the Grievance Committee. Helping out others in your organization is a good way to make your board and fellow real estate professionals better.
KW Cares- Keller Williams has a non-profit where anything we donate through our sales goes to people all over the country that need assistance due to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, fires, medical emergencies etc. So every check I receive, I give a portion to KW Cares.Then at Christmas, we always adopt a family and buy clothes, toys, electronics, blankets, etc. We also take care of the Service Center in our town of Redlands. We have what is called Red Day in May annually and we paint, plant flowers, buy children's books etc to make it better for the kids and adults who attend the center.
Women's Council of Realtors®- I have been involved with this non-profit organization for 4 years now and held a local officer position each year and I am currently President-Elect for our chapter. It is a way to help Realtors, Lenders, and other Service Related businesses in our community. We are an active group and hold monthly events/fund raisers with good speakers and great social events too. We give a large portion of our donations to different charities like American Breast Cancer, Youth Hope (helps homeless teens), and recently Care Packages to US Overseas Soldiers. We collected supplies to put into boxes and ship to servicemen and women overseas and this was a huge success. We are boxing everything at the end of the month.
Recycling- Giving to local thrift stores is a great way to help the community and save our landfills. Sure it is easier to just throw it in the trash but I try to make a trip weekly and give items to them. Many take building supplies, paint, cleaning supplies, appliances, furniture so when you give all this away, there is not much in your trash can. Plus if you are helping sellers and buyers and banks get rid of good reusable items, taking them to the thrift is a win-win for everyone.
Humane Society and Pet Rescues- I recently got involved as I had to get a Pitbull rescued that had been dumped in my city. I can give funds, transport, help pick up strays and search on social media for missing and found pets. We have recently located many pets that became lost on the 4th of July. Those poor little cats and dogs need our help and I love them all. Also feeding the local wildlife is important. I have bird seed feeders and hummingbird feeders to help them year-round♥
Angel's Closet-This local organization was started about 8 years ago to take care of kids in Jr.High and High School who needed clothes to wear and fit it with the others. One of the high schools gave this lady, a bungaloo and now she has 4 and helps families and wayward school kids go to school properly dressed, go to prom, and have job interviews. I give hundreds of dollars in clothes and accessories 3-4 times a year.
Short Sales- You might think this one odd but short sales are a lot of work and mang agent refuse or have difficulty closing them. I love doing them and helping homeowners who are underwater to be able to move on and live a less stressful life. When they close I do the Happy Dance!
It is a personal commitment and a way of life for many of us and our children. We just do it because we can and obviously many out there who need our help. You can give $$$ or your time or both. It makes you feel good to help others and people appreciate the assistance. I like to give to my own community in leiu of nationwide organizations as we have more control over where the funds or gifts go locally. Whatever you do, big or small, it is appreciated and a great way to network with other professionals. Teaching, Volunteering at the food bank, handing out presents, or just reading to kids, whatever you do to get involved in your community is so important. ♥
Thanks for Reading my Real Estate Blog.......
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Kristin Hamilton-CalBRE #01492138 Keller Williams Realty–Women's Council of Realtors®– I am a full time agent and deal in all types of real estate transactions. Trusts, Probate, Short Sales, Standard Listing, Single Family Homes, Apartments 1-4 units, Duplexes and Condos. I am also an experienced REO agent. I sell real estate in the Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. I am a trained and experienced Short Sale agent. If you are looking for a professional and experienced agent, I am just a click away.
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