REALTORS® and home builders pooled their resources in December to benefit the Griffin Center of East St. Louis and the Community Interfaith Food Pantry of Belleville.

REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI) members and Home Builders Association of Greater Southwestern Illinois members gathered at Gateway Classic Cars in O’Fallon on Dec. 5 to pool their donations and celebrate the holidays. They brought bags of toys, games, canned goods, non-perishable food and money to help the two charities.

“Our members not only work here, they live here,” said REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI) President Judy Ross. “Giving is so important, but to give back to your community shows the sense of pride these REALTORS® have for their hometowns. These organizations depend on the generosity of others and help so many people, who may only need help around the holidays, or may depend on them every day, which is why the REALTOR® association gives all year long.”

RASI helped several other organizations during the year: the REALTOR® Relief Fund, the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois and the Airmen’s Attic at Scott Air Force Base. RASI has more than 950 members. Its 2019 leaders are: President Judy Ross, President-elect Donna Baker, Treasurer-Secretary Celeste Wheeler, Immediate Past President Angie Zahn and CEO Deb Frazier.

To read other stories in the REALTORS® Give Back series, choose the “charitable giving” category on the right side of this page.

(l to r) Sister Beth Marie and Sister Julia from Griffin Center and Director of the Community Interfaith Food Pantry Mike Foppe stand by stacks of presents collected by local REALTORS®.