Community Service Spotlight: Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
Akron Cleveland Certificate of Merit Award (Center) Jim Fox, 2017 President of the Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS, accepts the Ohio REALTORS Certificate of Merit Award from Communications Committee Vice Chair Sara Riesen (left) and Chair Mike Valerino. The Akron Cleveland Association was one of 13 Local Boards/Associations that were honored for their community outreach efforts during the Board of Directors meeting at the Ohio REALTORS 2017 Annual Convention & EXPO in Cincinnati.
The Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS (ACAR) Community Outreach and Charity Committee devotes time and efforts to multiple community efforts. To summarize, between August, 2016, and August, 2017, ACAR’s Community Outreach and Charity Committee has supported the Akron-Canton Foodbank and the Greater Cleveland Foodbank. REALTOR and Affiliate members have also denoted time and resources to the Habitat For Humanity ReStore. In addition, the Community Outreach and Charity Committee raised funds through optional contributions through dues billing to raise money for the Real Estate Community Cares Fund and from proceeds at ACAR’s Annual Golf Outing. The Real Estate Community Cares Fund is a charitable foundation whose mission is to support local housing-related charities to benefit the welfare and prosperity of the communities that ACAR members live and work in to create more productive and enriched communities. ACAR members and staff also have a presence in Neighborhood Housing Services and Rebuilding Together and Neighborhood Housing Service.
The ACAR Community Outreach and Charity Committee held Foodbank Volunteer Day at the Akron-Canton Food Bank on April 5. At the Foodbank 21 volunteers, which included ACAR staff, agents and affiliate members, sorted through all types of food, paper products, baby items, beverages, etc. Volunteers not only had to check for expiration dates, but they had to check the packaging of items (ripped boxes, torn and/or broken seals). The Foodbank is a large operation and require many volunteers successfully meet the needs of so many in the communities they serve.
ACAR members and staff assisted at Akron’s Habitat For Humanity ReStore. Habitat For Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center. Proceeds from the sale of donated items supports Habitat for Humanity’s effort to build strength and stability through shelter. Volunteers spent a Saturday assisting by sorting donated household items and furniture, helping shoppers load purchased items into vehicles, mixed and sorted paint, and dried out old paints.
ACAR continued the Necessity Box Program. In October and November, 2016, a Survival Kit for Law Enforcement Officers was distributed to 15 different Law Enforcement agencies that totaled over 150 Survival Kits.
In April, 2017, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland and The Western Reserve received 88 Necessity Boxes of Personal Hygiene items along with some school supplies.
ACAR received a Placemaking micro-grant from NAR to help make the East Akron community a better place to live and work by transforming unused public space into vibrant community places. ACAR used the funds to help the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation create a positive social space (Minson Plaza) for the community of East Akron along its major corridor, South Arlington Street, and address the shortage of public gathering space in the neighborhood. The site is designed to function as a destination for people walking in East Akron at their leisure, and as a space for programmed activities. At the center of the plaza will be a stage, surrounded by seating. When not hosting a performance, the stage will be ideal for children to engage in imaginative play. A large bench and planter will sit at the Arlington Street side, with seating facing both inward and outward, providing a resting spot for people walking up Arlington but also inviting people in to the plaza. A large chessboard will be constructed using paving stones, and a nearby bench and table will feature a small chessboard. A metalwork table, designed by a local artist and given to each of Akron’s neighborhoods through the 500 Plates public art project, will also be placed here.
ACAR participated in Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio’s Building a Healthy Neighborhood project in Cleveland’s historic Slavic Village. Slavic Village was one of the hardest hit communities during the nation’s foreclosure crisis. Work included critical home repairs to more than 10 homes a community fair featuring agencies and companies that help with financial literacy, overall health, community services, etc. ACAR members worked on homes, served as house ambassadors, coordinated the fair vendors and greeted attendees.
ACAR maintains a leadership role in Neighborhood Housing Services. On November 21, ACAR participated in a Cleveland Housing Counseling event. The Cleveland Housing Counseling event was designed to discuss the topic of increasing homeownership by expanding the use of housing counseling. ACAR and Neighborhood Housing Services also works to assist new homeowners become successful homeowners by offering counseling on the responsibilities of being a homeowner. ACAR and Neighborhood Housing Services believes that creating and assisting residents become successful homeowners instills pride in neighborhoods and improves the quality of life for all residents.
What were the immediate results of the project?
Immediately, an awareness of the immense need to help the hungry in the Akron-Canton and Cleveland metropolitan areas. Community Outreach and Charity Committee members talked about their experiences at Volunteer Days at the Foodbanks with fellow REALTORS, which served to garner more volunteers, more donations of food and money as well as more awareness of the strong involvement in ACAR’s communities among the membership. Members find the task of the Foodbanks overwhelming in their efforts to continue to meet the needs of so many in the community who have to seek out help just to meet their daily food needs. At both Foodbank locations, the agencies were very impressed with ACAR’s professionalism, teamwork and how quickly our volunteers were able to sort and package the items At both foodbank locations, the agencies were very impressed with ACAR’s professionalism, teamwork and how quickly our volunteers were able to sort and package the items.
Habitat For Humanity ReStore project yielded the result of assisting with the organization of donated items, helped customers shop for and locate needed items as well as the generating good will among the community. ACAR’s efforts not only helped Habitat For Humanity but brought a greater awareness to ACAR members about the organization and its important role in communities across the country and worldwide.
ACAR participated with Neighborhood Housing Services on November 21 a Cleveland Housing Counseling event. The Cleveland Housing Counseling event was designed to discuss the topic of increasing homeownership by expanding the use of housing counseling. ACAR and Neighborhood Housing Services also works to assist new homeowners become successful homeowners by offering counseling on the responsibilities of being a homeowner. ACAR and Neighborhood Housing Services believes that creating and assisting residents become successful homeowners instills pride in neighborhoods and improves the quality of life for all residents.
ACAR’s participation with Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio’s Building a Healthy Neighborhood projects completed urgent home repairs to resolve unsafe or unhealthy living conditions that cause preventable injuries or illnesses.
What are the projected long-range results?
Community Outreach and Charity Committee intends to continue scheduling and holding Volunteer Days twice a year at the Akron-Canton and the Greater Cleveland Foodbanks. Committee members are also collecting money and food donations for both Foodbanks on an ongoing basis. The Committee members continue to work on expanding awareness of ACAR’s involvement in both Foodbank Volunteer Days to grow member involvement in donating time on Volunteer Days as well as increasing the amount of money and food donations.
The “Necessity Box” program is a year-long project that ACAR’s Community Outreach and Charity Committee will be working on. Be on the lookout for our next donation drive.
For the long-term, Habitat for Humanity focuses on shelter. ACAR volunteers and staff greatly enjoyed their time spent at Habitat For Humanity ReStore. Volunteering developed a greater connection to their community through volunteerism.
ACAR continues to work with partners such as Neighborhood Housing Services to encourage successful homeownership, and strengthen and revitalize neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio. Through all of these philanthropic efforts ACAR Leadership strives to maintain its impact on the communities that our REALTOR and Affiliate members live and work in.
Through Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio’s Building a Healthy Neighborhood project, residents can remain in their own homes and preserve the history and heritage of a neighborhood so we can welcome and retain new neighbors. Ongoing maintenance is a crucial step to ensuring a safe environment to build a quality life.
