Do you participate in a local food drive?

Real estate professionals are some of the most active members of their communities. Deep involvement in neighborhoods, towns, and cities helps real estate professionals position themselves in the eye of fellow community members as people who understand and care about their local area, which serves the secondary purpose of boosting trust and name recognition among the public.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, REALTORS® have increased their philanthropic and volunteer efforts, according to a new report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The Community Aid and Real Estate Report (the CARE Report) offers insight into the monetary and volunteer contributions of real estate professionals. The median annual value of REALTORS® associations' donations to communities doubled from $5,000 in 2018 to $10,000 in 2020. Despite many health precautions, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, volunteering among REALTORS® remains high. In fact, compared to 2018 when this study was last conducted, volunteering remains at the same high levels, and donations increased, further demonstrating REALTORS®' dedication to their communities. 58% of REALTORS® said involvement in their community is "very important" to their business plan, and another 27% said such participation is "somewhat important."

"REALTORS® are in the business of helping people and serving their communities, and we've seen countless examples of this play out nationwide during this pandemic," said NAR President, Charlie Oppler. "To hear that my colleagues in the real estate industry have pitched in to an even greater degree than usual is indeed heartwarming, but it is also not surprising."

Your local REALTORS® are no exception. The Snohomish County-Camano Association REALTORS® (SCCAR) hosts multiple charitable events every year. Currently, SCCAR will is amid hosting their annual Food Drive.

SCCAR’s annual Food Drive lasts through the month of October, with approximately 20 REALTOR® offices throughout Snohomish County collecting money and food to distribute to their local food banks. SCCAR partners with Volunteers of America Western Washington for their Food Drive every year, though multiple local food banks benefit.

SCCAR is the biggest community contributor to the local Snohomish County food banks. “In 2020, REALTORS^® raised almost 13,000 pounds of food and well over $110,000.00 for food banks across Snohomish County. And we plan to raise even more this year,” stated Jennifer Pederson, President of SCCAR.

If you would like to participate, or learn more about SCCAR’s annual Food Drive, please visit www.sccar.org/fooddrive or contact fooddrive@sccar.org.

For more information about buying or selling a home, be sure to work with a REALTOR^®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS^®. Snohomish County-Camano Association of REALTORS^® is the voice for real estate in Snohomish County. If you have questions for The Expert about real estate email us at info@sccar.org, or by visiting www.sccar.org.