REALTORS® Reach Out and beyond to help the needy

REALTORS® made REALTORS® Reach Out 2010 a success once again. In the past three years, 5,500 REALTORS® raised more than $153,000 and collected 37,600 pounds of food for charitable organizations.

This year alone, 800 members in 23 associations and boards raised more than $52,000, collected nearly 20,000 pounds of food and rehabbed 14 shelters or homes.

The third annual event, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®, encourages members across the state to volunteer in their communities.

“We had a blast,” said Steven Bodner, president of the Centre County Association of REALTORS®. Bodner and 100 of his colleagues participated.

The Centre County Association donated toys for the Toys for Tots program, donated money to other non-profit organizations and volunteered for the United Way’s Day of Caring.

As part of the Day of Caring, Bodner was assigned to landscape the State College YMCA and he got more than he bargained for. “We had to lay 75 yards of mulch,” said Bodner. “We were sore for a couple of days but we had a meal together and ate our aches away.”

Sarah Long, a member of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® who has been a REALTOR® for just six months, said it was a great opportunity to do something for the community.

Long volunteered with PAR staff and other members of Greater Harrisburg Association to help paint and clean the Domestic Violence Shelter in Cumberland County. “I think it’s good to have an organized event and it’s nice to take a day and do something for someone else,” she added.

“It really makes you feel good,” said Bodner. Along with the Governor’s proclamation and the House and Senate resolutions, the Centre County Commissioners also proclaimed October as REALTORS® Reach Out Month. Bodner believes it was an added boost to the efforts of the members’ volunteerism.