Giving Back with Greater Bergen Realtors
Give Back This Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2023
and Year-Round With GBR®
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Karen DeMarco recognized the need for food in her community was great. She wanted to do more, so her husband, Carmine, encouraged her to turn the Dumont Meal Brigade into a 501(c)(3) organization. “Karen is a natural caretaker,” Carmine says. “If she sees someone in need, she can’t not do something to help them, and I wanted to support her vision.” By summer 2021, the Food Brigade was distributing as many as 1,800 boxes a week, totaling 35 to 40 tons of food. The DeMarcos also coordinated with area food banks that were helping distribute food during the pandemic. At one point, they partnered with about 30 pantries. “I think the most important skill one can have—in real estate, business, or the nonprofit world—is the ability to empathize and build rapport with a wide range of different types of people. People need to know that you hear them, that you’re listening to their concerns and questions, and that you actually understand and care.” – Karen DeMarco, broker-associate, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage For DeMarco, The Food Brigade is more than a pantry. It’s a community staple that she wants to grow and nurture so that it perseveres as a resource in the years to come. |
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Donate to the Realtors® Care Foundation
The mission of the REALTORS® Care Charitable Foundation is to provide support to those in need and to improve the quality of life in the communities where our members live & work.
COMMITTEE CAUSES
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS: |
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Berkshire Hathaway Home Service
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For More Information, please contact Raymond Thorne, Education Manager.