ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – The Baldwin REALTORS® Community Service Committee, made up of 26 volunteers representing over 20 local brokerages in the South Alabama area, strategized a plan at the beginning of 2021 to take gift bags to the residents of all Baldwin County nursing homes and care facilities (20 in total) by Easter. Each brokerage office prepared a minimum of 50 gift bags, but some offices prepared over 300. In total, over 1,000 gift bags were prepared and distributed to the nursing home residents of Baldwin County by April 1st.
The association purchased the wrapping supplies, and participating brokerage offices purchased the items to include (i.e., nail files, no-slip socks, combs, crossword puzzles, notecards, and more). Due to COVID-19 protocols, committee members were only able to drop off gift bags at the front doors of the local nursing homes.
“Our committee members have wanted to do something for local nursing homes ever since the pandemic started,” said Committee Chair Rachel Romash-Reese. “We have all heard stories of residents being unable to receive visitors, feeling depressed and alone on holidays, and even being confined from other residents at times. It’s heartbreaking, and we wanted to do whatever we could to bring them joy and smiles around another holiday.”
One of the care facilities that received gift bags was Haven Memory Care in Gulf Shores. The local brokerage office that prepared the bags for this dementia-care facility made the decision to include a special touch of stuffed animals in each of the gift bags they dropped off. “The bags were given out at Easter, and the residents were very appreciative,” said a Haven Memory Care manager. “Special touches mean a lot to them. Some residents do not have local family, so receiving something like this definitely brings smiles.”
“I love seeing our members reach out beyond their day-to-day businesses to care for those that cannot care for themselves,” said Baldwin REALTORS® CEO Sheila Dodson. “In this incredible market, it can be easy to feel ‘too busy,’ but we must remember that we are in the business of people. Yes, it’s real estate – but it’s the people that truly matter. I’m proud of our association for recognizing that.”
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About Baldwin REALTORS® Baldwin REALTORS® is the source for real estate in Southern Alabama. We provide resources, education and tools to over 2,500 professionals across the region. We work to protect the interests of property owners, and our members serve buyers and sellers as REAL Advocates, Advisors, and Experts. Realtors agree to abide by a strict code of ethics and are held to a high ethical standard by their peers through their association membership. The term Realtor is a federally registered trademark owned by the National Association of REALTORS® and denotes membership in the nonprofit association.
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