The Bloomington-Normal Association of REALTORS® (BNAR) Young Professionals Network, chaired by REALTOR® Dawn Peters, continues to raise money to feed local health and safety workers through support of local restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Feeding Frontline Heroes BN,” has raised $5,310 since May 1 and has delivered 150 meals to the Normal Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. The next round of deliveries for mid-July will be with the Bloomington and Normal police departments.

“Our Feeding Frontline Heroes BN initiative was started by the BNAR Young Professionals Network as a way to continue our service work to the community while sheltered in place,” says BNAR Marketing Director Michelle Gudgel. “The idea is to provide meals from local restaurants feeling the effects of the COVID shutdown to essential health and safety heroes who work daily on the front lines. We continue to look for local heroes to feed with our ‘deliveries of thanks.’”

In addition, BNAR is offering a reusable cotton BNAR facemask for every $5 donated to the cause through the “Feeding the Frontline Heroes BN” webpage.

“While many of the donations came directly from our members, the initiative also gave our Affiliate sponsors a meaningful cause to allocate their sponsorship funds towards while all association events were being held virtually rather than in person,” says Gudgel.

BNAR partnered with the Grand Café – a Chinese-American restaurant – and Annie’s Eats – a local barbecue restaurant – both from Bloomington.

BNAR is led by association executive Diane Cote, President Penny Wilson, President-elect Brandon Shaffer, Treasurer Jessica Devore and Immediate Past President Danell Moberly. The association serves 471 members.