M
issouri REALTORS® are not only real estate professionals - we're so much more. We're active in the community - serving on school boards, in elected positions and volunteering our time to make communities where we work a better place to be. We're educators – serving on panels and facilitating industry discussions. The philanthropic efforts of our members is inspiring and the difference they are making within their communities is significant. Our Member Spotlight series highlights these efforts and introduces some of our wonderful members.
This month, we are shining the Member Spotlight on Rachel Strickland.
Recognizing the financial stress the holiday season can put on a family, Rachel Strickland, REALTOR® at Young Real Estate, LLC in Dexter, Missouri, was determined to help. Strickland initially felt the call to help others during the 2010 holiday season, but decided to wait until the following year. However, she realized that it was the right time, and immediately began fundraising and organizing with only one week until Christmas. The warehouse space was donated and toys were collected from over 100 miles. Strickland quickly organized Manger Full of Toys, an organization that collects and gives gently used toys to families in need within her community around the holidays. Since its creation, the organization has given toys to hundreds of families within the area.
In her role, Strickland is the founder, leader, event planner and fundraiser. She works tirelessly to help the less fortunate and served more than 175 families in 2015. Strickland led a volunteer force of five to ten people and personally volunteered 380 hours in the past year. On any given day, you can find her knee-deep in toys, sorting items and replacing toy batteries to ensure children receive a great toy.
Manger Full of Toys was created in 2010 with the goal of giving families toys and other gently used items to be re-gifted. The organization does not require any formal paper work or applications to participate in the drive, but rather is open to the general public and anyone who may need some assistance. The drive collaborates with Hope International, an organization that works to feed, clothe, and shelter those in need.
Strickland was a 2015 Missouri REALTOR® Good Neighbor Award nominee.
If you’re in the spotlight in your community or know someone who is - let us know, we’d love to shine our Missouri REALTORS® Spotlight on you!