Support for Realtors Against Homelessness’ July Food Drive

When a group of realtors began to notice the hardships that families face in their everyday lives, they knew they needed to do something to help.

That’s when Realtors Against Homelessness (RAH) started last year. The group held a fundraiser last fall to benefit students facing homelessness in the District 211 area.  The most recent initiative that RAH is spearheading is a summer food drive that partners with businesses in the community.

“We identified several real estate offices that might want to participate in this food drive campaign,” said Cindy Eich, one of RAH’s founders and member. “All food collected will be distributed.”

Eich said the idea to have a summer food drive was conceived from an article one of the group members read. Sue Gould of Prudential Starck organized the effort after reading that it’s harder for students to find adequate nutrition during the summer months. She said many food pantries find it hard to keep food stocked during the summer months because people generally think to donate when the weather is cold or around holidays.

The group, which consists of realtors from six different offices, including RE/MAX at Home, Prudential Stark, Baird and Warner, RE/MAX Suburban, Coldwell Banker, and Keller Williams, put together boxes for local businesses to participate. District 211 is one of the organizations partnering with RAH for the food drive, which will last through the entire month of July.

On Friday, July 13, agents from Baird and Warner were at the Jewel food store in Hoffman Estates on Palatine Rd., between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. collecting donations. This was the first time the group has done a food drive. Eich believes it’s important to help out the communities we live in.

“Even as the market improves, we continue to see the hardship families are going through,” Eich said. “Many of the homes we show are vacant properties, and often the clients that we work with are either losing their homes or purchasing a home they know was a short sale or foreclosure. RAH is a group of people committed to the communities and helping in any way we can. This is just a small way we can help.”

If you wish to contribute to the food drive or learn more about RAH, contact Cindy Eich at (847) 721-5580 or Sue Gould at (847) 309-5404.

The following offices are participating:

Baird & Warner, Palatine
Baird & Warner, Barrington
Keller Williams, Barrington
Keller Williams, Palatine
Coldwell Banker, Arlington Heights
Prudential Starck, Palatine
RE/MAX at Home, Rolling Meadows
RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest, Lake Zurich
RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest, Palatine
RE/MAX Suburban, Schaumburg
Su Casa, Palatine

-Submitted by District 211