A Year In Review: Bend Relo’s Annual Giving
Bend Relo’s annual giving not only feels good, but is good for our community, too. With over $20,000 in charitable donations for 2022 alone we wanted to highlight some of the nonprofits we partner with, and our pay-it-forward philosophy.
Each quarter, the agent who helps the most families close on homes, gets to choose a non-profit that Bend Relo will donate to. “There are so many great causes, it was important for me to get the input from team members of what is most near and dear to their hearts,” said David Keyte, team lead and broker at Bend Relo. “The thing that lights me up the most is learning about the mission of each cause and working as a team to support these great community organizations.”
Below are the four quarterly “homes closed” contest donations, and the other organizations Bend Relo supports. Keep reading to learn more about each organization, and their impact.
1. The Giving Plate, Inc.
The Giving Plate fights food insecurity in Central Oregon by providing food to over 2,700 individuals a month between their three hunger-relief programs. And, as the largest food pantry in Central Oregon, The Giving Plate, Inc., they committed to ensuring that their neighbors in need have the food they need, not just to survive, but to thrive. They believe they are not just providing food, but offering peace of mind to their guests and allowing them to focus on more than where their next meal is coming from.
2. Furnish Hope
At Bend Relo, we believe that professionally staged homes help home buyers imagine what living in this new home would feel like, from their first visit. We know how important transforming a house into a home is, which is why we partner with Furnish Hope.
We trust, and hire, Furnish Hope to stage our client’s homes, knowing that their mission aligns with ours. “Staging supports Furnish Hope’s ability to make furniture donations,” said Keyte. “After Furnish hope stages furniture five to seven times, they donate it to families transitioning into stable affordable housing. Then, Furnish hope is able to buy new furniture to repeat the cycle.”
In addition to hiring Furnish Hope for their staging services, Bend Relo rents furniture from Furnish Hope for the Bend Relo apartment, supports their efforts through financial donations, and teamed up this holiday season to donate fifty wreaths to families!
3. Eden Reforestation Projects
With the Deschutes National Forest right at our doorstep, Bend Relo understands the value of our precious natural resources and making sure that they’re protected. Eden Reforestation’s global forest restoration network creates livelihoods for millions of people living in extreme poverty by empowering them to restore and protect forests on a massive scale. Thus, creating a better life for both our forests, and the communities that depend upon them. Win-win.
4. Think Wild
As Central Oregonians know, with wild spaces comes wildlife. Think Wild works to reduce the incidents of conflict between humans and wildlife through prevention education. When conflicts do occur, Think Wild provides veterinary treatment and care at the wildlife hospital.
5. Anson’s Bike Buddies
If you’ve ever ridden a bike and felt free, fearless, and five-years-old you can understand the “why” behind Anson’s Bike Buddies. They’re an Oregon-based non-profit, who collect used bicycles, repairs them, and then partners with local nonprofits to donate the bicycles to children who may not otherwise have access to a bicycle. Their mission: Donate a Bike–Change a Life.
6. Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center
Since 1999, Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center, has provided equine-assisted strategies to help Central Oregonians with varying disabilities and special needs thrive. With the horse as partner, participants enter a truly integrated therapeutic experience that is proven, effective, and fun.
7. Every Kid Sports
Cost is the number one barrier keeping kids from playing youth sports. Every Kid Sports works to get kids off the sidelines, and into the game. They partner with individuals, and organizations like Bend Relo, to fund their Every Kids Sports Pass. The Pass helps qualifying families, with sports registration fees. Because, they believe in the power of sport to build confidence, and health habits that will last a lifetime.
Giving Grows a Better Tomorrow, Today
Whew, our world is better and brighter because of these organizations. Our team at Bend Relo is both humbled and grateful to team up with these organizations to make a positive impact. every. single. day.