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REALTORS® have a reputation for being active in their communities—for volunteering or for donating to charity or for finding other meaningful ways to give back. NAR members, in fact, volunteer at nearly three times the rate of the average American (67% to 23%).
One of the best illustrations of that philanthropic spirit is NAR’s partnership with the Food Recovery Network. Having participated in FRN’s Food Recovery Verified program since 2019, NAR & other REALTOR® groups from around the country have in total donated nearly 1,500 meals to Americans in need in just over two years.
NAR released a report this summer that highlighted some key statistics that link affordable housing and hunger. The nation’s largest trade association remains active on Capitol Hill and throughout Washington, D.C., continuing to advocate for additional investments in affordable housing while further expanding its ongoing partnership with FRN.
Last week, NAR CEO Bob Goldberg and VP of Demographics & Behavioral Insights Jessica Lautz participated in the latest installment of FRN’s monthly webinar series “Intersectionalities in Practice.” The conversations examine the intersections between FRN’s work to fight hunger and address a number of other pressing issues facing our world today.
View the webinar and learn more about how you can help fight hunger in your community here.
“NAR is such a powerful partner because they truly walk the walk to make food recovery the norm and not the exception, both by instituting food recovery plans at all of their national events… and by encouraging all of their members across the nation to establish food recovery programs at their own events,” FRN’s Executive Director Regina Anderson wrote in a recent blog post published on FR’s website.
NAR’s affordable housing and food insecurity report, released August 24, found that 8 million U.S. households lacked enough food from June 23 to July 5 of this year. One in five renter households were receiving food stamps, while nearly one in 20 homeowner households were. In addition, about 40% of homeowner households had difficulty paying for household expenses like food, mortgage, student and car loans, medical bills, and utilities. Roughly two-thirds, or 67%, of renter households reported the same.
As part of its ongoing effort to address this significant, lingering need, NAR maintains its offer to support state and local REALTOR® associations that are working to have their events Food Recovery Verified. Securing the verification means FRN will help organizations implement their own food recovery plan.
Individuals or associations looking for more information can email info@foodrecoverynetwork.org, and FRN will walk interested parties through the process.