REALTORS® making a difference in the greater Harrisburg community

ENOLA, PA (Oct. 30, 2018) – REALTORS® from the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® (GHAR) volunteered with New Hope Ministries, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Cocoa Packs, and Rebuilding Together throughout the month of October.

Pennsylvania REALTORS® across the commonwealth are working in their communities to make a difference through REALTORS® Reach Out, a statewide initiative held annually in October. Since its inception, more than 15,000 REALTORS® have participated in REALTORS® Reach Out. Over the last 10 years, REALTORS® and their local associations have collectively raised more than $450,000 and collected 54,100 pounds of food for various charities.

Locally, more than 30 Realtors® pitched in to sort and pack food items, distribute winter coats to youth and their families, repair holes in walls, install a comfort height toilet for a disabled veteran, repair a wheel-chair accessible ramp, paint two front porches, mulch and landscape, and compile literacy packets for educational courses.

“We truly care about the communities we serve and feel a duty to give back. We’re happy we can lend a hand and hope that we can do even more in the future to support the people in Central PA,” said Derek Bicksler, President of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation. Derek has repeatedly volunteered with Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

GHAR members from Berkshire Hathaway HomeService; CB Residential Brokerage; Century 21 Realty

Services; Home Pro Inspections LLC; Howard Hanna Real Estate Services; Iron Valley Real Estate; Joy Daniels Real Estate Group; NextHome Capital Realty; Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®; RE/MAX 1st Advantage; RE/MAX Realty Associates; Team Pete Realty Services and Turn Key Realty Group all committed to making a positive impact in the greater Harrisburg community.

Isabel Warrell, Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Foundation Vice President volunteered with New Hopes Ministries and Rebuilding Together this year. “As REALTORS®, we believe in our community and help its members with home ownership. When we come together as an organization and give back it shows our commitment to Central PA, the people who call it home and making it a better place to live – one service event at a time”.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is the largest non-profit food distribution organization in central Pennsylvania. Last year, the food bank distributed more than 22 million pounds of food to more than 800 partner agencies.

Cocoa Packs provides a variety of nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner items to students K-12 in the Hershey area. Their weekly supplemental food program distributes to over 200 students, specifically on weekends, holidays and summers when students are not able to access school food programs.

New Hope Ministries is working to prevent hunger and homelessness and offering educational programs and transportation, utility and medical assistance at each of its six centers throughout central Pennsylvania.

Rebuilding Together has been rehabbing houses and non-profit centers in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, and upper York counties for 24 years. Many of the homeowners within our local community lack the resources to maintain their homes. Rebuilding Together helps those homeowners remain in their homes and “age in place”.

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The Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS, established in 1916, represents over 2,000 REALTORS and provides leadership in adapting to advances in the industry. The Association is committed to promoting ethical and competent real estate practices and advocating the value of home ownership in Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties. For more information contact the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® at (717) 364-3200 or visit the website at www.ghar.realtor.