Real Estate Brokerage Doubles 2024 Donation Amount During Annual Holiday Season Food Drive
PHOENIX – On Nov. 12, Valley-headquartered real estate brokerage HomeSmart donated 2,189 lbs. of non-perishable food items to St. Vincent de Paul, topping the company’s previous donation of 1,240 pounds of food in 2024. During early November, HomeSmart’s corporate staff and agents collected nearly 4,500 cans of items like canned tuna, soup, fruits and vegetables, and donated 1,990 bottles of water during the brokerage’s annual holiday food drive.
“We recognize that food pantries have stepped up in a big way this season to address rising demand for assistance, as many families remain uncertain about how to consistently access food, let alone provide meals for the holidays to come,” said Jayme DeVary, director of people operations at HomeSmart. “In response to recognizing this pressing community need, HomeSmart worked hard to more than double our giving impact this year.”
HomeSmart’s 2024 food drive effort inducted the brokerage into St. Vincent de Paul’s 1,000 Pounds Club, which recognizes businesses, schools, churches, clubs and individuals who support the nonprofit through raising 1,000 pounds or more of nonperishable food items. Now, the brokerage celebrates a second year in the 1,000 Pounds Club.
According to St. Vincent de Paul, 1,000 pounds of nonperishable food donations can feed up to 40 families, ensuring their pantries remain stocked with shelf-stable meal options.
“Food is one of the most important things that we all need as humans, and one of the most important missions at St. Vincent de Paul,” says Shannon Clancy, CEO of St. Vincent de Paul.
The donation effort benefiting St. Vincent de Paul is HomeSmart’s latest charitable initiative. The brokerage operates a giving arm called HomeSmart Helps, which was formed in 2007 for the purpose of assisting agents during times of financial crisis, as well as facilitating volunteer opportunities for agents to better their communities. Aid from HomeSmart Helps is available to all 25,000 agents across over 250 offices in the United States. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has served communities in central and northern Arizona since 1946. The nonprofit’s extensive programming includes housing and shelter for people experiencing homelessness, as well as general assistance for families and individuals living in poverty: charity dining rooms serving thousands daily, medical and dental care for uninsured patients, distribution of food boxes and the operation of thrift stores throughout Arizona. For more information about St. Vincent de Paul, please visit stvincentdepaul.net.