SPAAR's Community Engagement Committee has kicked off a new program of food shelf grants in 2019. In February, the committee approved the first $250 grant to REACH Together, a Saint Paul nonprofit that serves refugee families in its Eastside neighborhood. REACH Together founder Sheryl Fried used the grant to purchase rice and paper products in bulk, which were then broken down for distribution to individuals and families.

  

Food insecurity was brought to the committee's attention through SPAAR's partnership with Stillwater-based Meals from the Heart, a nonprofit that packages meal kits for distribution to area food shelves. In 2017 and 2018, SPAAR coordinated meal packing service opportunities with Meals from the Heart and in 2018 SPAAR was lead sponsor for Side-by-Side Saint Paul, a two-day, community-wide meal-packing event that brought together more than 700 volunteers who packed more than 125,000 meals for local food shelf distribution.

 

This year, on April 17, Meals from the Heart will host a community meal-packing event and your office or business is invited to bring a team of 8-10 volunteers for an hour of meal packing, and some friendly competition. The sponsorship cost for your team is $500. For information, visit mealsfromtheheart.org/Stillwater-b2b or call ( 651) 829-3232. 

 

The REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, affiliated with the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS (SPAAR), will grant up to five $2,000 scholarships to children or grandchildren of current, active SPAAR members this year; at least one scholarship may be designated for the child or grandchild of a SPAAR Affiliate Member. 

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, school activities, community service and a written essay.

Learn about the rules and eligibility or fill out an scholarship application. Completed applications are due Friday, April 26, 2019. F or questions, contact Joe McKinley at SPAAR,(651) 772-6344.

 

Each month, a member of SPAAR is recognized for their community involvement by being named SPAAR Hero. SPAAR Hero is coordinated by the Community Engagement Committee. Each month's SPAAR Hero is recognized in a press release, on social media and on SPAAR's website, and receives $250 for the nonprofit or cause they support. 

 

Know someone who should be recognized as a SPAAR Hero? To nominate a SPAAR Hero, please provide details of the nominee's community service and the name of the cause or organization they support to Joe McKinley at (651) 772-6344 or jmckinley@spaar.com.

 

Safety first -- know your surroundings!

 

Members have great ideas to share, too, such as:   

 

In 2019, the committee plans to march as a group in parades around the Twin Cities to meet these goals. REALTORS® want to make some noise!

The committee is looking for volunteers to march in parades. Marchers will help promote Fair Housing and Equal Housing Opportunities. You can march in one or as many parades as you like. Funny hat? OK! Play a drum? Sure! March by yourself, with friends & family or with a team from your office! A t-shirt will be provided to each participant.

Questions? To register, please call 651-772-6344 or email spaar@spaar.com