Realtors® Reach Out in communities across PA

PAR staff volunteered at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank last week as part of Realtors® Reach Out Month.

Staff members packed 35,000 cans for distribution, held a food drive within their office and sponsored a lunch earlier this month to benefit the food bank. The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that is able to reduce hunger in 27 counties across Pennsylvania.  By working with more than 700 community partners, food is provided to nearly 46,000 people in need every week.

“Central Pennsylvania Food Bank depends on a hardworking and dedicated corps of volunteers on a daily basis,” said Joe Arthur, executive director of the Food Bank. “Volunteers are the backbone of our organization, performing duties in all of our programs to support our mission. The Food Bank is extremely grateful for our dedicated volunteers and we thank them for assisting us to keep our programs running successfully.”

“We’re pleased to participate in Realtors® Reach Out activities,” said Dave Phillips, CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®. “Our Realtor® members volunteer throughout the year but this event focuses on how together we can make a difference in our community. And our staff enjoys lending a hand to a variety of charities throughout Central Pennsylvania.”

Local Realtor® associations throughout the state are sponsoring a number of activities ranging from donations to building projects across the state as part of the month-long Realtors® Reach Out.

In the past four years, more than 6,200 Realtors® across the state participated with 27 local Realtor® associations and boards, donated more than $176,000 and collected nearly 40,600 pounds of food and 1,000 pieces of clothing for charitable organizations. Realtors® have also refurbished homes, cleaned up local communities, held auctions and organized blood drives as part of this initiative.