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Photograph by Jean Newton
Jeff Barnett, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, picks up trash near the railroad as part of the association's Community Outreach Week. Barnett works for Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos.
Realtors participate in community outreach
By Jean Newton
Whether picking up trash, boxing canned goods or replacing furnace filters for elderly citizens, Silicon Valley Association of Realtor members and affiliates were hard at work helping others as part of a newly initiated Community Outreach Week held June 23-29 "This effort is a chance for Realtors to provide services in the communities where we work," said David Barca of Ziprealty.com who also serves on the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Board of Directors and came up with the concept as chairman of the Community Outreach Committee. "We're motivated and excited to do something that will make a difference in each of our communities."
The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors serves Santa Clara and San Mateo counties through districts incorporating the communities of Los Gatos/Saratoga, Sunnyvale/Cupertino, Mountain View/Los Altos, Menlo Park/Atherton and Palo Alto. According to Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Board President Jeff Barnett of Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos, the Community Outreach Week was met with such enthusiasm that it will become an annual event.
"Each of the different districts that make up our 3,000-member organization selected projects that meet the specific needs in their own community. In that way, we can reach out to those who need the help most," said Barnett.
Picking Up Trash
In Los Gatos and Saratoga, more then 20 Realtors and affiliates representing various companies including Windermere, Alain Pinel Realtors, Union Planters Mortgage, Commonwealth Title, Chicago Title, Alliance Title and Meredith Homes, gathered to clean up a five-mile stretch of trail that parallels the railroad track. Kym Bashaw of Union Planters Mortgage and Mike Nevis of Alain Pinel Realtors coordinated the effort to help keep the community clean.
As the volunteers picked up trash during a four-hour time frame recently, they added to a growing pile of items that had been dumped along the trail including a picket fence, car bumpers, bags of garbage, scrap metal and old tires.
Mark Medalie, a neighbor who often takes his dog for a walk along the track, said the area has become a dumping ground. He commended the clean-up effort and said, "I speak for all my neighbors in saying thanks for your volunteer time. It is greatly appreciated."
Photograph by Jean Newton
Meredith Harrington of Meredith Homes adds to a pile of trash picked up during Community Outreach Week, sponsored by the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.
Food for Needy Families
In Sunnyvale, volunteers from Silicon Valley Association of Realtors' Sunnyvale/Cupertino district spent an afternoon bagging groceries for more than 600 needy families served by Sunnvyale Community Services, whose mission is to "erase hunger and homelessness in Sunnyvale."
Director of Volunteers and Operations Marie Ayende said each of the 600 families will receive approximately 20 to 25 pounds of food packed by the volunteer Realtors and member affiliates who represent companies including Referral Realty, Fine Homes and Estates, Century 21, Countrywide and Remax.
"With the rise of PG&E bills, rent increases and layoffs, we're busier than ever before. Thanks to this volunteer effort, we can distribute food to those who need it. This means we never have to turn away a family," said Ayende.
For Realtor Charlene Oxoby of Referral Realty, it is an opportunity to give Realtors a good name. "So often you hear bad stories about Realtors, but we actually give in a lot of different ways. Realtors really do care, not only about our clients, but about our community,"Oxoby said.
As the coordinator for the volunteer effort, Mary Combes of Fine Homes & Estates Seville Contempo said she was gratified with the response from "top producing Realtors, lenders and affiliates who are taking the time to actively participate. Our purpose is to do as much as we can to give back to the community."
Helping Homebound Seniors
In Palo Alto, senior citizens will benefit from Silicon Valley Association of Realtors's Menlo Park/Atherton and Palo Alto district volunteer efforts through a new program called Realtor Service Safety Volunteer Program or RSSVP. Designed to promote and support home safety for elderly or disabled homeowners or renters, the free, hands-on support by small teams of volunteers working at each residence will address necessary health and safety concerns.
After receiving referrals from Little House in Menlo Park and Avenidas in Palo Alto, volunteer Realtors and affiliate Silicon Valley Association of Realtors members changed light bulbs, trimmed shrubs, cleaned out gutters, washed windows, changed furnace filters and flipped mattresses during the Community Outreach Week.
"We feel this fills a void in the services that are currently provided for homebound seniors," said coordinator Nancy Goldcamp of Coldwell Banker in Palo Alto. "This week has been filled with so much energy, so many helping hands and so much enthusiasm, with homeowners hugging agents as they finish their chores."
Approximately 100 homeowners signed up for the program this year and Goldcamp hopes the initial launch of the program will turn into a larger, full-scale effort next year.
"We love our work and wish to give back to the community in a way that relates to our business. We're extending ourselves in a hands-on way that helps people stay in their homes," said Goldcamp.
One of the goals of the Community Outreach Week is to make an impact within the community in a significant way said Realtor David Barca. "It is evident that our help is needed and appreciated within the community, so next year we hope to broaden our efforts during our second annual Community Outreach Week," Barca said.
The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors is a regional trade association composed of Realtors and affiliate members. An information resource for both Realtors and consumers, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors provides ongoing education programs and training, Internet access and online networking as well as mediation programs and legislative advocacy. For more information about the organization or the Community Outreach Week, contact Executive Vice President Penny Pompei at 650.949.9115 or check out the website at www.siliconvalley-realtyors.org.
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