Half Moon Bay REALTORS® Raise $13,000 for Puente Fire Relief Fund
In August, residents of Pescadero, Loma Mar, La Honda and San Gregorio received evacuation orders in response to multiple fires burning in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. While the CZU Lightning Complex fire is now largely contained and most of these orders have since been lifted, the sudden impact of these evacuation orders was felt immediately in San Mateo County's coastal cities, including Half Moon Bay, as evacuees began seeking shelter, necessities and financial relief.
Led by a call to action from their Tuesday morning meeting coordinator, Barbara LaVey, a group of Half Moon Bay REALTORS® quickly mobilized to raise funds to support relief efforts for their coastal neighbors impacted by the wildfires and evacuation orders.
The group chose to direct their fundraising towards an organization Puente de la Costa Sur (Puente, for short). "These folks are getting it done with boots on the ground" said LaVey of Puente. "The funds will help them get critically needed supplies and food to those hardest hit."
In a year with so many unexpected changes, SAMCAR had already established an online fundraising page for the #SAMCARGivesBack campaign to support charitable grants dispersed by the SAMCAR Foundation, which would normally be funded by fundraising events. The Half Moon Bay group made nimble use of the ability to pass donations through SAMCAR's 501(c)(3) foundation, by donating online, assuring that the funds could be distributed to Puente as rapidly as the need in the community was emerging.
Funds provided by the folowing donations:
Kirby Foundation Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation |
$10,000 |
Barbara LaVey |
$1,000 |
Casa del Mar Neighbors helping Neighbors |
$1,000 |
Kirsten Hagen |
$250 |
Martha Longhi |
$250 |
Judy Taylor |
$250 |
Grant Walters |
$250 |
Barbara spurred fellow Realtors to donate with a $1,000 pledge, which garnered contributions from Kirsten Hagen ($250) and Casa del Mar Neighbors Helping Neighbors ($1,000), Grant Walters ($250), Judy Taylor ($250), and Martha Longhi ($250). And, in a surprise letter on September 4, the SAMCAR Foundation received notice that it was awarded a $10,000 grant to support Puente's relief efforts from the Kirby Foundation Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation. In just over a week and a half, donations totaled up to $13,000 and funds were distributed to Puente without delay.
On their homepage, Puente acknowledges that the support of professional organizations and foundations, like SAMCAR, have allowed them to provide "financial assistance to those who lost work hours, materials goods, their home or had unexpected expenses due the fire." They add, "We are moved by the kindness, solidarity and generosity shown by all community members during this critical situation."
And we at SAMCAR are moved too. It is truly inspiring to witness the way that our members step up to help out in our communities. With no shortage of hardship this year, this spirit of collaboration and neighbor helping neighbor is welcome news for us to share.
Examiner | Peninsula Real Estate (Page 7; 10/11/20)
