Realtors Share the Spirit of the Season

Last week marked the final push of what has become a nearly year-long charitable endeavor for two local real estate offices.

Over the past 16 years Century 21 Executive Realty in Schererville has been making Christmas brighter for the children in need at Carmelite Home in East Chicago, while Gwen Conley has played the role of Mrs. Claus and rallied the troops at RE/MAX Realty Associates in Munster to bring some much appreciated holiday cheer to the St. Joseph Church Soup Kitchen in Hammond for the past 22 years.

"As long as the office has been open, we've been giving to Carmelite Home," Missy Johnson, assistant to Bill McCabe, broker/owner of Century 21 Executive Realty, said.

"Patti Pazera started it, and we continued the tradition since she retired."

Donations have been especially strong this year, and once again there is an entire room full of gifts ready to surprise the children at Carmelite Home, according to Johnson.

"Along with so many generous monetary contributions, different agents pitch in and help out, especially with the shopping. We buy everything from coats to toiletries to toys and diapers. The boss gives me the day after Thanksgiving off so I can get the best deals. You have to make every dollar count." she said. "This year we originally received a list with 36 children's names ranging in age from 3 months to 19, and they have added 7 more since."

After the gifts are picked up by Carmelite House, a special thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to the effort during the annual Century 21 Executive Realty Christmas party.

It has been reported that Carmelite Home, a nonprofit organization originally opened 1913, will face a $1 million deficit by the end of 2011.

Since providing refuge to their very first child nearly 100 years ago, the Carmelite sisters have served as many as 200 children and their families in a single year. Now, the facility currently serves about a third of the children it served in recent years. A policy shift by the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), which provides the majority of Carmelite's budget, now places more children in foster care than residential facilities.

Offering comprehensive family and child services, Carmelite Home provides both a residential treatment center and emergency shelter with trained caregivers, private and dorm-style bedrooms, dining areas, outdoor and indoor play spaces, full-size gymnasium, indoor swimming pool and chapel to ensure that the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children in need are met.

While the home relied upon the generosity of the community to get started, the majority of funding in recent years has come from state contracts. Carmelite Home is located at 4840 Grasselli St in East Chicago. To learn more call (219) 397-1085.

Following a visit to the soup kitchen over 20 years ago, Gwen Conley, who is now retired, knew she had found the right place to honor the memory of receiving some greatly appreciated Christmas gifts when she and her ill, single mother were staying with family friends. These gifts included a basket of food, a pair of warm gloves and some warm socks for her mother's feet.

To produce each year's Christmas miracle, Conley and her "elves" start early hitting the after-Christmas sales for highly-coveted hats and gloves. Monetary donations from individuals and businesses alike are used to help cover shopping expenses, and a special luncheon where volunteers wrap gifts and stuff goody bags is hosted by Herm (Santa) and Kris Hoge, broker/owners of RE/MAX Realty Associates, prior to the big event.

Then, on the Thursday preceding Christmas, Realtor-driven "sleighs" set out north on Hohman Avenue loaded with gifts, treats, and plenty of warm clothing, hats, gloves, socks and coats for all ages. Mr. and Mrs. Santa plus a handful of volunteer elves greet the guests as they line the hallway in anticipation of this very special event.

This year, along with many of the Realtors with RE/MAX Realty Associates, Region Title, Access Home Mortgages, US Bank, Chicago Title, Fidelity Title, Centier Bank Munster Branch and Platinum Systems Specialists, Inc all made significant contributions to the cause.

"When I first started, we brought socks for the men," Conley said. "It's grown so much! The Realtors always pitch in by giving their time and so many generous gifts. They look forward to it every year."

The St. Joseph Church Soup Kitchen has been providing a free, nutritionally-balanced mid-day meal to anyone in need 5 days a week for 27 years. Along with the homeless, individuals who line up for meals are seniors and the working poor. They come for a hot meal and to enjoy a little conversation. They're men and women of all ages, sometimes even whole families. Everyone is welcome.

While many continue to support the Soup Kitchen as they have in the past, donations -- from individuals, local businesses and longtime corporate contributors -- have dropped off significantly in recent years.

The St. Joseph Church Soup Kitchen is located at 5304 Hohman Ave. in Hammond. For information on how you can help, call (219) 932-0702.