The REALTORS Care® Blanket Drive has shifted to an online fundraiser this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The renamed REALTORS Care® Blanket Charity Drive will run from November 23 to 30.

Donations will be distributed to housing-related charities across the Lower Mainland.

The 26-year-old blanket drive campaign is a partnership among the Lower Mainland’s three real estate boards, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB), and the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). 

In a traditional year, the more than 18,000 Realtors in the region would work with their clients and a network of charitable organizations in every Lower Mainland community to collect and distribute blankets and lightly used clothing to help more than 35,000 residents stay warm during the winter months.

The pandemic has caused organizers to revise the name and purpose of the campaign for 2020. 

“Our partner charities have been hit hard by the pandemic. Many aren’t accepting clothing and blanket donations for safety reasons and in-person fundraising events aren’t happening either, which is straining already tight budgets,” says Colette Gerber, REBGV Chair. “Our Realtor community wants to help our partner charities overcome these challenges. This is why we’ve moved from a blanket drive to a financial drive this year.”

“The pandemic has made life even harder for the most vulnerable people in our communities,” Chris Shields, FVREB President said. “Our Blanket Drive charities have seen their donations drop and they need our support today more than ever. For 26 years, we’ve asked you to go through your closets or go shopping. This year, it’s simpler; just a couple of clicks to make a small cash donation that, collectively, can make a huge difference in our communities.”

Help spread the word about the REALTORS Care® Blanket Charity Drive! Visit www.facebook.com/BlanketDrive for shareable social media posts and other content.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley Real Estate Boards are professional associations representing more than 18,000 REALTORS® who live and work in the Lower Mainland from Whistler to Abbotsford. The Boards provide a variety of member services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For more information on real estate, statistics, and buying or selling a home, contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.rebgv.org or www.fvreb.bc.ca.

Craig Munn
Director, Communication
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
604-730-3146
www.rebgv.org

Laurie Dawson
Media Relations
Fraser Valley Real Estate Board
604.930.7657
www.fvreb.bc.ca