REALTORS® and their families have spread holiday cheer and donated hundreds of new, unwrapped toys to the Tree of Angels toy drive. Toys were collected through the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) annual children’s Christmas party and annual REALTOR® toy campaign in December.
The Christmas party has been a staple event for REALTORS® and their little ones for many years. Santa came to see more than 75 boys and girls this year, listening to their Christmas wishes and smiling for photos. Along with Santa, the children enjoyed face painting, games, balloon twisting and live music. Admission to the annual event was a new unwrapped gift.
From December 3 to 17, REALTORS® collected toys at participating real estate brokerages or brought them directly to KWAR’s headquarters where they were being gathered for pick up by the Salvation Army’s Tree of Angels volunteers. Large boxes generously donated by KWAR sponsor AMJ Campbell were delivered to participating offices and decorated and filled with donations over the drive duration.
KWAR Directors Tony Schmidt (immediate past president) and Colleen Koehler (first vice-president) took time out of their busy schedules to visit each office and collect the boxes of toys.
“Our REALTORS® are very much part of the communities in which they live and work,” said Brian Santos, President of KWAR. “Especially during the holiday season, giving back is an important part of building better communities and improving the Quality of Life in Waterloo Region.”
KWAR is involved in several charitable activities and the annual toy drive is just one way members are working to improve the community.
