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Annual Realtors Care Blanket Drive adapts to pandemic

Campaign across the Fraser Valley asks only for cash donations in 2020
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Last year’s Realtors Care Blanket Drive collected 192 bags of warm clothing and blankets for the Abbotsford-Mission area. The 2020 version is collecting only cash donations. (File photo)

The annual Realtors Care Blanket Drive in the Fraser Valley is being held in a different way this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, local realtors are asking the public to make cash donations from Nov. 23 to 27 in lieu of donating blankets and warm clothing.

The goal of raising $15,000 among the 26 blanket drive recipient charities has already been surpassed.

In a traditional year, the more than 18,000 realtors in the region work with their clients and a network of charitable organizations in every Lower Mainland community to collect and distribute blankets and lightly used clothing. The donations help more than 35,000 residents stay warm during the winter months.

RELATED: Realtors Care Blanket Drive collects 1,400 bags of bedding and clothing

The 26-year-old blanket drive campaign is a partnership among the Lower Mainland’s three real estate boards – the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB), and the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board.

Many local charities aren’t accepting clothing and blanket donations this year, but FVREB president Chris Shields said the pandemic has made life even harder for the most vulnerable.

“Our Blanket Drive charities have seen their donations drop, and they need our support today more than ever,” Shields said.

Charities being supported in Abbotsford are: 5 and 2 Ministries, the Salvation Army, Cyrus Centre, Gateway Community Church (extreme-weather shelter), Raven’s Moon Resource Society and the Warm Zone.

Charities in Mission are: Lydia Home (Union Gospel Mission), Hope Central Ministry (New Heights Church), Mission Community Services Society, Mission Friendship Centre Society, and Mission Youth House.

Donations can be made at my.charitableimpact.com/campaigns/realtors-care-blanket-drive.