The COVID-19 pandemic has come with its share of challenges and tragedies, but amid the sadness has been a ray of hope: the people coming together to help their communities get through.
For Canadian real estate professionals, community is at the heart of what you do. So, it is no surprise that as communities band together, real estate professionals are leading the charge.
There are so many good news stories of real estate professionals across the country giving back. We can’t share them all, but we wanted to highlight some of the people finding ways to contribute.
a) Distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
We’ve heard many stories of real estate professionals digging out their sewing machines and manufacturing face masks for their communities.
REM Online recently reported one such instance. After hearing that care facilities in the Sutton, B.C. community were running low on PPE, Becky Zhou Hill of Sutton-Premier and her daughter, Leah, have created more than 300 masks since April. Further, they have been giving them out by donation and have raised more than $600 for the Surrey Memorial Hospital.
In another REM Online article, they shared that Andrew Kerr, a sales rep with Sutton Group — Old Mill Realty in Toronto, turned his garage into a distribution centre for helping Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers distribute hand sanitizer and disinfectants to healthcare professionals, microbreweries, and take-out restaurants.
b) Connecting Online and Offline
Real estate professionals know the power of networking. Eryn Richardson, a broker with Century 21 Heritage Group in Newmarket, used that skill to form a group of volunteers to aid homebound locals. REM Online reported that Richardson and his group — Heritage Helpers — have more than 30 volunteers in five local communities.
While connection efforts are happening offline, the online community networking is equally robust.
As reported by REALTORS Care®, Bruce Johnson, a real estate sales professional in Wasaga Beach, formed the “Caremongering – Wasaga Beach” group on Facebook, which gives members a space to share COVID-19-related news and resources.
Similarly, North Vancouver real estate sales professional Jacquie McCarnan formed the “COVID19 Coming Together – North Vancouver” Facebook group, which has more than 3,200 members.
c) Raising Money and Donations
In other cases, real estate professionals showed their support with monetary donations to frontline responders or supportive organizations.
Save Max Real Estate, based in Mississauga, co-hosted an online fundraiser where they raised $60,000 in support of Peel Region frontline responders. REM Online reported that a major portion of the money will be contributed to the William Osler Healthcare Foundation and Trillium Health Partners to procure PPE for frontline healthcare responders.
The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) donated $480,000 to Ontario shelters and shelter-based charities through the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation.
At GeoWarehouse, we have made a donation to Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charity. Our employees continue their personal contributions as well.
How have you been contributing? Please share your story with us on social media. Find GeoWarehouse on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Even if we couldn’t highlight you, thank you for your hard work and your contribution. Your community and the country appreciate it!
We urge you to find ways to collaborate with your community. No matter how you choose to help, we are in this together.
GeoWarehouse is here to support Canadian real estate professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Learn more about our online property data solutions at www.geowarehouse.ca.
