The Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® raised $25,000 to help fund and support the 31^st annual Turkey Drive to assist Peoria area food pantries this holiday season.

The annual PAAR Turkey Drive helps individuals and families in the Peoria area enjoy a meal this holiday season. Monetary donations were used to purchase more than 2,600 Kroger gift certificates distributed to 28 area food pantries in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton and McDonough counties.

PAAR members sold raffle tickets for this tiny home to raise money for their annual Turkey Drive fundraiser.

As part of this year’s fundraising efforts, PAAR conducted a raffle of a 240-square foot Tiny Home. In total, 2,500 raffle tickets of $20 each were sold for the Tiny Home with proceeds benefitting the PAAR CARES Foundation Turkey Drive. PAAR REALTOR® Adam Merrick was the winner of the Tiny Home.

Some of the amenities of the Tiny Home raffled included a living area, kitchen (refrigerator included), loft bedroom area, bathroom and storage area. The home was built by YOLO Productions, LLC.

“This was our 31^st year in sponsoring the PAAR Turkey Drive. This year we took a unique approach to our fundraising through the raffle of the Tiny Home,” said Mary Ann Ladendorf, president of the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS®. “We had the home on display at various locations including many fall festivals throughout the Peoria area helping to promote the importance of the Turkey Drive to our community. Area businesses even took part in staging the home including Ethan Allen, Caliber Home Loans and Carpet Weavers.”

“The Turkey Drive remains a steadfast tradition in helping to feed Peoria area residents and assist those who are struggling financially,” said Ladendorf. “Each year we are more creative in ways to help raise funds for the PAAR Turkey Drive that benefits many individuals in our community. We are certainly appreciative to all who contributed to our fundraising efforts or purchased a raffle ticket this year to help support the demands for increased assistance being borne by area food pantries in our area.”

PAAR is the “Voice for Real Estate” in the Greater Peoria area, with more than 900 members engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. PAAR advocates for property owners and on behalf of a healthy business community.

(This is the 14th blog post in the “REALTORS® give back” series. To read the previous 13, go here.)