Real Estate Articles
REALTOR®: Local REALTORS® Give Back to Their Communities through RSVP
Pictured here are this year's RSVP volunteers from the Palo Alto District.
Members from the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®' (SILVAR) five districts were busy helping seniors with household tasks last week, May 4-8; so were their counterparts from the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®, the Fresno Association of REALTORS®, Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS® and the West Contra Costa Association of REALTORS®.
This year, 92 volunteers from SILVAR's Palo Alto District were able to help 48 households; in the Los Altos/Mountain View District, 130 volunteers helped 47 households; in the Los Gatos/Saratoga District, 63 volunteers helped 31 senior households; and in the Cupertino/Sunnyvale District, 39 volunteers helped 31 senior households.
Every year in May, REALTORS® and affiliates take time from their busy work schedules to help seniors and the homebound with household tasks they cannot do on their own. These tasks include washing windows, installing smoke detector batteries, flipping mattresses, light vacuuming, dusting, replacing light bulbs, changing furnace filter and trimming bushes.
While these tasks may seem simple for some, for seniors and the homebound in our communities, many of whom live alone or have relatives who are far away, they are difficult to do. So it is, through RSVP – the REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program, that SILVAR members are able to give back to the communities where they live and work.
"We take a lot of these tasks for granted," said C.T. Harris, a longtime RSVP volunteer from the Los Gatos/Saratoga District. "Many seniors are in need of our help and we are glad to do it."
On Monday, the group of Erika Schuman-Fitch, Shelley Roberson and Michael Hall changed a senior homeowner's smoke detector batteries, planted flowers and flipped her mattress.
The 87-year-old woman said she was at first skeptical of REALTORS® offering the free service, but she has availed of the service for the past five years and is extremely pleased.
"When my husband died, I got so overwhelmed with all the work, so I called," she said. "Now I tell all my senior friends about it and they can't believe it. I am, so pleased. This program keeps a lot of us in our homes."
"It's rewarding to be able to help seniors in our community," said Schuman-Fitch, who also volunteered at the Los Altos/Mountain View District on Wednesday.
Also in Palo Alto, an 86-year-old senior homeowner was delighted with help she received from Charlene Chang, Michelle Rogers and John St. Clair III. This is the third year she has availed of the REALTOR® free service. The REALTORS® installed new batteries in her smoke alarm, new light bulbs and did light cleaning in her home.
"I am just so impressed," she exclaimed. "I think this service is wonderful. I used to do a lot of these things, but can no longer get up on a ladder."
St. Clair, who is chair of SILVAR's Palo Alto District and has been an RSVP volunteer for many years, replaced old drinking water in the homeowner's emergency water containers with fresh water.
"Emergency water should be replaced every six months," said St. Clair. "It's good to know that she is prepared for an emergency."
RSVP volunteers perform these services free of charge to help seniors and not to promote their business. "Our seniors need our help," said one RSVP volunteer. "I have a mom, so I know the drill. They could use our help. It's a good thing for them."
"I love it to death!" exclaimed one senior homeowner, who has availed of the service the past two years. "I am so grateful to the REALTORS® who do it. I am overwhelmed. I understand it, and accept it with a grateful heart."
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The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.