Hunt Real Estate collects donations for Neighbors Foundation

Story and Photos by Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

On Nov. 16, for the fifth year, Hunt Real Estate, 2098 Grand Island Blvd., collected nonperishable food for the Neighbors Foundation. Hunt Real Estate began collecting donations on Nov. 1.

“We’re super excited,” said Realtor Rebecca Simpson. “This year, the ninth graders (from Grand Island High School) donated a lot of food for the foundation, as well. My husband (Chris Simpson) is helping me, and we’ve got a lot of donations. This is our first year of doing a 50-50 (raffle) so, for people who want to donate some money and also have the opportunity to win some, we did that. I have my annual baskets. This year, I did the 50-50 and then I’ll do a second drawing for the Buffalo Bills basket. Like a runner-up gift.”

In addition, Simpson said she got donations from several businesses: “Trendsetters donated some food, as well, and contributed to the 50-50.”

Four Niagara Falls businesses donated gift cards for the raffle: Moe’s Southwest Grill (333 Rainbow Blvd.), A&W Restaurant (303 Rainbow Blvd.), Crumbl Cookies (1637 Military Road) and Papa Johns (240 First St.).

Another person helping with the raffle is Pavneet Toor, a senior at Grand Island High School and an intern at Hunt Real Estate.

Simpson said Pavneet, who has been an intern in the office since September, has been very helpful with posting information on social media.

“She helped me with Instagram,” Simpson said.

“We made posters, fliers,” Pavneet said. “I passed out fliers at the school, and I also posted online about it.”

Pavneet explained she was posting events for Hunt Real Estate on social media: “We went out to businesses, too, and we dropped off flyers there so people can donate from all the businesses.”

Pavneet said working with Hunt Real Estate has been a valuable experience for her: “I love helping people, going to the businesses and meeting new people and networking.”

Simpson said, “She’s a great help because we’ve gone on showings together. It’s a great experience to have an intern from the school. She said it’s about business and getting out into the community, doing the job of a community member, as well as being a Realtor.”

Pavneet said she has taken several business classes at the high school and that the internship is part of a workplace skills class.

“You can pick whatever internship you would like. I picked Hunt Real Estate if I want to be a Realtor in the future,” Pavneet said.

For Simpson, the highlight of the food drive is “being involved in the community and being able to help others.”

Simpson said she felt the food drive has been “successful each year. I love the Neighbors Foundation because it actually helped one of my family members before. So, I was very thankful for that. I appreciate them. I like to donate and try to get more donations for them.”

Simpson said she had a number of people to thank for helping to make the food drive a success.

“I’d like to thank Pavneet for helping me; my, husband Chris Simpson; my branch manager, Cheryl O’Donnell Dettinger,” Simpson said. “They allow me to have this here each year. I’m very thankful to everybody who donates. I know there are a lot of good charities out there. Everywhere you go, they are like, ‘Would you like to donate? Would you like to donate?’ I have people to help and support me, and not only on the Island. I have people who live in other cities, in Tonawanda, as well, and they came over to drop off food for the foundation. So that’s great.”

Pavneet added, “I would like to thank Rebecca for helping me so much and my family and my teachers, especially Mrs. Chamberlain. She introduced me to Rebecca.”

Rebecca Simpson and Pavneet Toor with a poster advertising the food drive.