At Essential Properties Inc. in Litchfield Park, real-estate agent and Designated Broker Craig Bennett is coordinating a Toys for Tots drive, with boxes in the Litchfield Park and Goodyear offices, where neighbors may drop off unwrapped toys.
Master-planned Vistancia is also collecting for Toys for Tots through one of its builders, Gehan Homes, at the model-home complex, Village at Vistancia. From 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, get a free photo with Santa by bringing an unwrapped toy. Also Trilogy, through Shea Homes, the Trilogy HOA and BlueStar, the operators of the community Kiva Club, is sponsoring a drive for unwrapped toys for children, from infants to 12, to be brought to the club through Dec. 19.
West Valley HomeSmart agents are ringing for the Salvation Army throughout the Valley. They have an angel tree at each branch office with the goal of each tree supporting 10 children, or 100 total children across the company. They also have a Million Can Crusade box set up for food donations to St. Vincent de Paul, organized by a staff member, and a shoe-donation bin for Phoenix Rescue Mission through the New Year. Those donations were organized by Christine Espinoza, an agent with HomeSmart.
At the West Valley office of Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty, the angels have been on the Giving Tree so that associates may purchase gifts for the mothers and children staying at New Life Center, a center for victims of domestic violence. "The gifts we purchase will be placed in their 'Santa Shop,' where moms and children get to 'go shopping' and select presents to give to each other at Christmas," agent Jan Stevens said.
The offices are also collecting non-perishable items or monetary donations for St. Mary's Food Bank, as coordinated by David Pfieffer, another agent with the office. Animals haven't been forgotten, as the group is also collecting for Cat World Rescue Inc.: items such as cat treats, toys, litter, blankets and scratching posts.
Marcie Theokas and her associates at the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Sun City/99th Avenue and Bell Road office are continuing a decade-plus-long tradition to help the Valley View Community Food Bank through a drive to fill three large containers from mid-October with non-perishable food items. Agents and office staff are approaching clients for food donations in addition to filling those boxes themselves. Items will be delivered to the food bank probably during the second week of December, as donations from the public traditionally fall off between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Also, on Thursday, 25 members of the office were scheduled to volunteer at Valley View to sort canned food; cull produce; bag pasta or rice; or complete whatever else was assigned. The group has historically processed enough food to feed hundreds of recipients as a result of Volunteer Day. "Although it is hard work, it is fun and rewarding, and many of our associates are there every year," Theokas said. "Along with food items, we bring cash donations to the food bank from the associates and their clients."
About Gehan Homes
Gehan Homes, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a privately held homebuilder helping homebuyers achieve the dream of home ownership for more than 25 years. Known for their award-winning designs, quality craftsmanship, smarter floor plans and competitive pricing, Gehan Homes has been helping families find a home that is stylish, beautiful, spacious and highly functional for modern living. Named a Top 35 Homebuilder in the nation, Gehan Homes has offices in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, please visit www.gehanhomes.com
