Realtors to collect clothing donations
In partnership with the Yuma Sun and RE Magazine, the Yuma Association of Realtors will hold a clothing drive during open houses this weekend to benefit the Assistance League of Yuma.
Collection bins for clothing donations will be placed at open houses throughout Yuma on Saturday as part of the National Association of Realtors Open House Weekend.
People are encouraged to bring new or gently used clothing they no longer need or use and drop it off while touring local homes that are for sale at the various open houses.
For a schedule of open houses being held this weekend, check out real estate advertisements in Friday's Yuma Sun and Saturday's issue of RE Magazine.
The clothing will be donated to the Assistance League for sale in its thrift store at 1054 S. 4th Ave. Proceeds from the thrift store help fund the Assistance League's various programs to benefit the community.
Among them is the ALBY program that provides teddy bears to the police and fire departments to give to trauma victims. The Assistance League also creates Assault Survivor Kits, funds the Assistance League of Yuma Scholarship Program and Operation School Bell, along with Las Dedicadas Auxiliary and its programs.
“The Yuma Association of Realtors was looking for ways to give back to the community,” said Bobbie Cooper, public relations chair for the organization. “Assistance League needed clothing donations to help stock the thrift store.”
“The donation of clothing will greatly assist us in sales at our thrift shop,” said Betty Borland, a member of the Assistance League. “As you know, the resources gained from thrift shop sales enable us to purchase the clothing, shoes and books that are given to needy children throughout the county. The need is great and we anticipate another very busy year for Operation School Bell.”
Cooper noted that the clothing drive is but one of numerous projects undertaken by the Yuma Association of Realtors to help the community. “It's part of our outreach program to ensure donations stay in Yuma.”
Nearly half of homebuyers visit open houses during their home search, according to the 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors.
The nationwide open house weekend provides buyers the opportunity to visit several homes in their area and to learn more about homeownership from Realtors who will be at the open houses to talk about local market conditions.
Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YSJoyceLobeck or on Twitter at @YSJoyceLobeck.
