By John Daux, 2020 GTR Community Outreach Chair
The Community Outreach Committee continues to rally members to represent Greater Tampa REALTORS® (GTR) doing good in the community despite the challenges of COVID-19. Members graciously participated to support the campaigns for Everyday Blessings Inc. and Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough.
On May 28, the Committee partnered with the Pasco Relations Advisory Board to host a GoFundMe campaign to support the foster care services provided through Everyday Blessings Inc. Everyday Blessings Inc. is a nonprofit foster care center based in Lithia Springs, Florida. The agency is a foster care group home that serves up to 30 children coming from various areas. The children ages range from newborn through 17 years of age, come from all economic backgrounds and ethnic groups, and have been removed from their previous homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.
In a single week, GTR members, affiliates and staff helped to raise $1,735 for the nonprofit agency through its GoFundMe campaign. Also, from June 4 – 5, Association members dropped off more than $500 of groceries and cleaning supplies to the GTR offices in Tampa and Zephyrhills. Social distancing precautions were taken to assure a safe drop-off of the donations.
Richard Stroud, Executive Director of Everyday Blessings Inc., stated that the nonprofit “is beyond appreciative of the efforts by the Greater Tampa REALTORS®. It’s campaigns like this that allow us to provide a nurturing and loving environment for our children. The food and supplies are always in need and cash donations allow us to meet many different needs as they arise.”
Later that month, on Tuesday, June 30, GTR sprang into action for the conclusion of the Real Estate Build with Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough (HFHH). 2020 President Darlene Davenport and 2020 Vice-Chair of the Community Outreach Committee Keianna Carty (KC) were part of HFHH’s video production celebrating the Real Estate Build. GTR is the first title sponsor for the inaugural Real Estate Build. The Association’s leadership was proud to be able to assist Ms. Alexis Barnes and her two sons (a toddler and a pre-teen) become homeowners. With masks adorned, Ms. Barnes invited GTR members inside her home. President Davenport also presented Ms. Barnes with a GTR housewarming gift. She was greatly appreciative of the kindness shown to her family. Along with nine other new homeowners, Barnes dedicated many hours of sweat equity to build a home in the revitalized University Area community. As families stood in front of their beautiful, newly built HFHH homes, they were greeted with honking horns and gleeful waves as decorated cars drove along the street in front of the single block of homes.
To commemorate the 2020 title sponsorship, HFHH’s Chief Development Officer Richard Rogers presented a beautifully engraved souvenir hammer and HFHH seal that were mounted and encased in a black shadow box. President Davenport accepted the gift of appreciation on behalf of GTR. Although members were unable to physically engage the project, Rogers assured Davenport that GTR members will have another opportunity to have a hands-on, boots-on-the-ground experience in another Real Estate Build opportunity as soon as conditions improve.
There are so many of you (REALTORS®, Affiliates and staff) who did an awesome job in answering the call to action; we thank you. But we’re not done yet! The Community Outreach Committee will engage in a few other projects before the year ends. We look forward to having many more of you participate in upcoming projects to send a resolute message that REALTORS® give back and support our communities. In the meantime, please stay safe.
