At the end of 2021’s pandemic gloom, a Melbourne estate agency launched a Christmas toy drive, never imagining how successful if would become. Following a Real Estate Business editorial, which was shared within the agency’s community, interest in the initiative has simply snowballed.
First National Real Estate Melton principal, Jade Carberry, says that at the end of 2021 she just wanted to put a smile on children’s faces on Christmas day, after the misery of Melbourne’s COVID lockdowns.
After getting started, she was contacted by Melton City Council and told her business was the only one in her community conducting a toy drive, and that it wanted to support her initiative.
At the time, local churches and support services had been unable to provide their usual Christmas assistance, so Melton City Council referred all of its registered families to First National Real Estate Melton and donated more presents to support the estate agency’s initiative.
‘After Real Estate Business published an editorial about our toy drive, it added legitimacy to our initiative and has been instrumental in substantially increasing the support we received in Christmas 2022’ says Ms Carberry.
‘In 2021 we delivered presents to around 35 families but last Christmas, we were able to increase the number of children receiving presents to over 100. We deeply appreciate the support our community has shown and are very grateful to Real Estate Business for the role it has played in helping our industry deliver cheer to underprivileged families’
Issued by: First National Real Estate
Chief Communications Officer, Stewart Bunn, First National Real Estate on 0413 624 317