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Illinois REALTORS® are adept at finding ways to give back to their communities, especially around the holidays. Here are some of the initiatives that our members participated in this past holiday season.
This REALTOR® leads by example
REALTOR® Anatasia Lozhkina, an active member of Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Rotary Club and broker at @properties in St. Charles, assists with projects for Toys for Tots, Schaumburg Township Food Pantry, the Barn Senior Program Social Saturdays Project and the Santa Run 2021, which raises funds for the annual Community Grants Program. Lozhkina also volunteers as an instructor of Russian language and culture at the senior center.
Three local associations make their mark
Illinois REALTOR® Tom Mosenfelder
In the Quad Cities, 22 members of Quad City Area REALTORS® rang bells for local chapters of the Salvation Army at five HyVee locations on Dec. 3. They raised $1,544 to give back to their communities. REALTOR® members who participated included: Sally Atwell, Tom Behal, Dennis Bell, Shannon Chap, Lisa Deines, David Derrick, Stephanie Eckhardt, Aaron Hamilton, Regen Johnson, Amy Karnavas, Brooke Keck, Lucky Lang II, Kathy Littlejohn, Don Marple, Tom Mosenfelder, Kendra Mulcahy, Christia Nache, Marley Nerhus, Bob Reaves, Kaylie Rowe, Julie Sage, Sharon Smith and Rachel Thomas. Sharon Smith’s granddaughters and Kathy Littlejohn’s daughter also helped.
Champaign County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) partnered with the United Way of Champaign County to complete CCAR President Liz McDonald’s charity initiative by installing a Born Learning Trail at the Urbana Early Childhood School. Paint supplies were provided by United Way of Champaign County. Volunteers painted the sidewalks in coordination with the signs provided through CCAR. REALTORS® who painted the sidewalks included: Jayme Ahlden Fay, Jeffrey Barkstall, Christina Hawn, Laura Heiser, Liz McDonald, Mariya Vandivort, Judy Vasey and Nick Ward and his son. Affiliate members included Butch Dalhaus and Suzanne Stachura, while CCAR staff members were Linda Green, Shelly FitzGerald and Gabby Peppers.
Members of the REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI) used their annual holiday celebration to raise more than $1,000 for local charities, as well as more than 260 pounds of canned goods and an assortment of toys for children. RASI donated $580 for the Griffin Center in East St. Louis and $400 for the Community Interfaith Food Pantry in Belleville. “Being a REALTOR® is not just a job but a commitment to our community,” said RASI President Karen Sheesley. “And we feel strongly about our participation.” The donations are part of RASI’s year-round efforts to help people in the Metro East region.
Brokerage helps Manteno area
LaMore Realty in Manteno spearheaded and organized the Manteno Christmas Basket Program which provides gifts for local families in need. Families sign up in early November, and soon after, Christmas trees at participating local businesses are tagged with gift ideas for registered family members. REALTORS® Dawn Lochner, Mollie Grizzle, Linda Weigt, Ambriana May, Bonnie Kuiken and Managing Broker Gina LaMore were among the community members who chose tags, shopped for presents, wrapped gifts and organized the distribution of those gifts. Local donations also provided quilts, hats, gloves and scarves for children. LaMore, who volunteered for the program in past years, was happy to take the lead this year. “Our town is small, and we enjoy participating and giving back to our community,” she said.
