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Socks, Habitat, Yoga and More – A REALTOR® Gives Back

Written by Posted On Friday, 10 April 2020 05:25
Socks, Habitat, Yoga and More – A REALTOR® Gives Back

My articles have been urging those in the real estate industry to step up and find ways to help in their local community.  My past articles have featured REALTORS® helping at a food bank, being part of organizing a blood drive and a REALTOR® that returned to nursing when she saw the need at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While speaking with these REALTOR®/HEROS I see a common thread: giving back to the communities they love!  I also learned that about 70% of all REALTORS® are community leaders, even before the pandemic by serving as youth sports coaches, PTA, local government, civic organizations, church leaders and filling many other roles needed to make their communities a better place to live.  That brings me to my next REALTOR®/HERO, Cristal Drake with Reliance Real Estate Services, who didn’t need a pandemic to start giving back.

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Cristal (virtually) this week and want to share her story.  Cristal decided to enter the real estate world as a REALTOR® at about the worst time possible to start, 2008.  One thing she had going for her was that she loved her hometown of Fullerton, California! When she speaks of Fullerton you can see her light up as she shares all the great qualities of her town.  I believe this plays a big role in her desire to help others.

In 2009 Cristal was volunteering at a local food bank and, while delivering to the Women’s Transitional Living Center, she felt the need to do more. She asked, “How can I help your organization?” Socks, yes socks, were the first request they made; the center needed socks!  Cristal launched a sock drive to help the center and it’s still happening today. After a few years she named it Socktober. Cristal distributes baskets around Fullerton with a sign:

1. Purchase Socks
2. Donate Socks
3. Feel Better

Her sock drives have been very successful collecting between 750 and 1,000 pairs a year during her October sock drive.

In 2010 Cristal committed to Habitat for Humanity to help internationally. During her eight years with them she traveled to Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, India and Nicaragua.  This was the part I could tell was close to her heart as she thought about how people in those countries were affected by the pandemic. She explained that the houses they would help build were 100 to 300 square feet for an entire family.  “A roof over your head is the most basic human need” and being able to help in those countries was a very touching experience for her. When leaving a build from another country the fulfillment of changing lives left her with a feeling of accomplishment.

The past two years she has traveled to Thailand and Bali to become a yoga instructor. Cristal feels yoga is another gift she can give. During this time of high anxiety and stress, she feels yoga is another tool to help people feel better. Every week she does a Facebook live for about 40 minutes, suitable for all levels, to help with stress relief.  By doing the session on Facebook folks don’t need to worry about what they look like or how they are doing the exercise. 

In wrapping up our time together she shared her true outlook of life, “I always think what do I have and what can I do no matter what’s happening to help.”  When the stay at home order was issued for the state of California, she decided to go into her yard and trim back all her succulent plants, gather up pots and dirt and set up a stand in front of her house with the following sign:

Take and Make
Take Some Succulents
Take Some Soil (if you need some)
Take it Home and Plant It
Take an Extra to Give to Someone Who May Be Feeling Lonely

Cristal Drake, you are and have been a REALTOR®/HERO!

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Dick Betts

Dick Betts, REALTOR® The Villages, FL with Touchstone Real Estate, Addie Owens, Broker, Mount Dora FL.  Dick has been working in the real estate industry for more than 20 years and brings his experience and expertise to help you find the best solution for your real estate needs.  Moving to Florida in 2008 he started in Ocala and began searching where in the state of Florida he wanted to call home, Florida has so many options, Beaches, Southeast, Southwest, the Panhandle.  After weighing his options, he found where he wanted to call home just 20 miles south of Ocala, The Villages!  Living fulltime in The Villages since 2011 his only regret was not moving there sooner.

Dick has traveled across North America since 2000 speaking, training and helping REALTORS® in 47 states and 5 Canadian Provinces hone their skills to better serve the public.  He now brings those years of experience to The Villages to help folks who also want to call The Villages home.  People looking to buy in The Villages are from around the world and need a tech savvy REALTOR® to serve their needs.  Selling in The Villages you want to list your home with somebody who knows how to market your home to the Facebook Generation and bring the most exposure possible to attract a buyer.

Want to really learn about The Villages Lifestyle?  Want to see what The Villages has to offer?  Let Dick Betts be your guide and help you call The Villages your NEW HOME TOWN!

www.dickbetts.com

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