A more personal kind of charity

Central Valley - The staff at Keller-Williams Realty of Central Valley will hold a hurricane relief yard sale and fall festival Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their offices at 229 Route 32 to help a 62-year-old woman in New Orleans and her family. Hurricane Katrina shut down four Keller-Williams offices in New Orleans and curtailed operations at three others. As part of a nationwide effort to raise $9 million for hurricane relief, each office “adopted” at least one employee affected by the hurricane and will provide that person with funds to help bring back a sense of normalcy. The Central Valley office has pledged to assist a 62 year-old widow, who was a secretary at a Keller-Williams office in New Orleans. She lost a great many things in the storm and now, back home, she has taken in her son and her grandchildren, who were left homeless by the disaster. Keller-Williams Realty of Central Valley already has raised $1,200 so that their colleague in New Orleans could purchase a refrigerator and food. The staff also has provided money to help pay bills as well as clothing and school supplies for her family. The office corresponds with its adoptee weekly. The yard sale and festival will take place at the agency’s office at 229 Route 32, across from the Bright Star Diner. There also will be a bake sale, pumpkin and face painting, and the staff will accept donations to be offered at the yard sale. Other fund-raising events are planned, including an art auction and car wash. The effort is part of Keller-Williams Realty Cares, a non-profit charity to help its agents and their loved ones in need. Each office nationwide, including the Central Valley office, pledged to raise $30,000 annually for charity, with most of the money staying in the local community. “I am proud to be a part of this company because I am not only able to do great business, but I can also make a charitable difference in my community,” said Michele Ogut of Highland Mills, an associate broker at Keller-Williams.