Watson Realty Corp. Introduces Innovative Food Collection Program

Aug. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Watson Realty Corp., REALTORS and the Watson Cares Council are pleased to announce the start of an innovative food collection campaign in partnership with the nation-wide Feeding America organization.  Many buyers and sellers need a place for their unwanted pantry items when they move.  REALTORS are well-positioned to act as a collector of these items for local food pantries.  

The program is driven by one of Watson Realty's managers who thought up the concept after a conversation with a frustrated friend.  The friend was facing a full pantry with no time to use the contents before her move.  Sharon Juhasz, manager, real estate services, Watson Realty Corp., has shared her idea of connecting REALTORS to food pantries with fellow real estate professionals across the country.  Juhasz shared the idea with the Watson Cares Council, which has quickly adopted and embraced the program.

Custom-made, reusable tote bags bearing the Watson Cares logo are being actively distributed by Watson Realty associates to customers, friends and neighbors to fill with nonperishable food, cleaning supplies and pet supplies.  They can conveniently fill the tote bags with these items and their Watson Realty associate can receive the items when they come to pick up the Watson Realty “sold” sign and lock box.  Donors can also just drop items anytime during business hours to their neighborhood Watson Realty office and keep the tote bags for future donations or for personal use.

"Why waste such a valuable resource?  We, as REALTORS, can help both the customers and the needy families in our area with such a simple gesture," shared Juhasz.

Ann Shahin, vice president/managing broker of the Watson Realty Atlantic Beach office in Jacksonville is having immediate success with the food drive.  “What a difference this new program is making!  Second Harvest has picked up over 30 bags of food from our office,” shared Shahin.  Second Harvest of North Florida sent the Atlantic Beach office a thank you note for their initial delivery and reported that the food amounted to 45 meals for local families.

All nonperishable food items collected by Watson Realty associates are donated to Second Harvest Food Banks, the local affiliate of Feeding America, and distributed among their network of local food pantries.   With over a thousand sales associates and 40 offices in the Northeast and Central Florida areas, Watson Realty has the potential of making a great difference feeding those in need.

To learn more about Watson Realty Corp., visit http://www.WatsonRealtyCorp.com.  For the latest information on Watson Cares news and events, visit http://www.Facebook.com/WatsonCares.