Every year, Lower Mainland REALTORS® organize a Blanket Drive to collect blankets and warm and/or waterproof clothing to help people in need stave off the winter cold and wet. Thousands of REALTORS® and members of the public generously donate to this worth while cause.

Last year there were 75 REALTOR® volunteer coordinators and over 100 real estate offices across the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver which served as drop-off locations to collect an astounding 4,000+ bags of blankets and clothing — bags the size of green garbage bags stuffed with donations.

In 2009, the Blanket Drive will run from Monday, November 30 to Monday, December 7.

Anyone can donate anytime during the campaign dates (during business hours) at one of 41 locations in the Fraser Valley . Please refrain from dropping off donations before the Drive begins, as real estate offices don't have adequate storage.

Fraser Valley Blanket Drive Charities

• Abbotsford/Aldergrove: Abbotsford Food Bank and Christmas Bureau

• Delta: St. Cuthberts Anglican Church and Friendship Providers in Action

• Langley: The Free Store and Langley Food Bank, the Ishtar Transition Housing Society, Wagner Hills Farm - Drug & Addiction Recovery, and Salvation Army - Gateway of Hope Shelter

• Mission: Mission Community Services, Indian Friendship Centre, and the Union Gospel Church

• Surrey: Hyland House men's shelter, Newton Advocacy Group Society, Surrey Memorial Hospital – volunteer resources, Surrey Urban Mission, Lion Wellness Center and NightShift Street Ministries

• White Rock/South Surrey: South Fraser Women's Services Society

Fraser Valley charities and drop-off locations, as well those for Greater Vancouver, can be found at www.blanketdrive.ca.

Please donate ANY of these items:

• blankets, sleeping bags, bedding (new - to help fight bed bug infestations at some shelters - or used in good condition)
• winter jackets, coats, rain coats, rain ponchos, windbreakers (men, women and children)
• sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, turtlenecks, sweatshirts, fleece vests, pullovers
• pants, sweatpants, jeans, slacks
• long underwear, scarves, hats, mitts, gloves, toques
• shoes, boots, especially waterproof
• any clothing offering warmth and/or protection from the elements

Please do not donate household items, summer clothing, furniture, books, toys, toiletries, etc. Save them for another time — this is a drive for warm clothing and bedding for people who are homeless.

Since 1995, Fraser Valley REALTORS® have joined forces with police acting as extra eyes and ears to fight crime in their communities. REALTOR® members at the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board joined the Realty Watch program in 2003. In 2006, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver members launched Realty Watch for their areas.

Realty Watch is a crime prevention program whose mission is to reduce and prevent crime by assisting police in time-critical situations - usually lost or abducted people. It is a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week service.

Police contact the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board and request a fan-out for the missing person. The information sent out as a text message to REALTORS®. After receiving the fan-out message, if a REALTOR® sees or hears anything that could help police with that case, he or she calls 911.

REALTORS®, with their cell phones, pagers and community mobility, are an excellent resource for police. Over 12,000 REALTORS throughout the Lower Mainland of BC, from Whistler to Hope, can be mobilized within 30 minutes.

This Spring, the Commercial division at the Calgary Police Service contacted the Real Estate Board of Vancouver (REBGV) about two suspected con artists operating in Metro Vancouver. This prompted the board to issue an email alert. A REALTOR® informed REBGV staff that an individual matching the description and alias outlined in the alert had enquired about a high-end property in West Vancouver. This information was relayed to local authorities who ultimately arrested both suspects.

In the Fraser Valley, Realty Watch is led by a group of volunteer REALTORS®. For more information, call 604.930.7657.

Visit the website for more information - click here.

For Police / RCMP only

To issue a Realty Watch fan-out call: 1-877-5FANOUT

Email your B.O.L.F. (Be on the Lookout For) form to: realtywatch@fvreb.bc.ca

Any questions, call the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board at: (604) 930-7600

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board launched the REALTORS® Make Good Neighbours Awards in 2002 to honour community volunteering by REALTORS®. Recipients are selected based on the amount of time they spend volunteering, level of responsibility undertaken as volunteers and overall impact of their efforts within their communities.

The selection panel is composed of people outside the real estate profession, who work in local charities and non-profit associations.

Congratulations to our 2008 individual and corporate winners, who have given back through charitable donations, volunteer work, coaching, fundraising and other valuable initiatives.

• Marion Brooks of Royal LePage Wolstencroft, Langley
• Bill Campbell of RE/MAX Little Oak Realty, Mission
• John Glazema of BC Farm & Ranch, Abbotsford
• RE/MAX Colonial Pacific Realty Ltd. in White Rock

If you know or a Fraser Valley REALTOR® or Office deserving of this award, please email us at mls@fvreb.bc.ca and we'll forward you a nomination form.