Thousands of Long & Foster Real Estate agents and staff members across the Richmond region made an impact in their communities by reaching out to help local schools, nonprofits and neighborhoods during the company’s 21st annual Community Service Day in June and continuing throughout the summer.

Among the many projects undertaken by Long & Foster’s field offices in the Richmond region:

• Long & Foster Bellgrade held a shoe drive for Soles4Souls, a nonprofit that distributes shoes and clothing around the world and works to create sustainable jobs.
• Agents and staff from the Grove office donated three picnic tables and $500 to Jones & Jones Assisted Living, a residential care facility for disabled people. Long & Foster agents and staff also grilled around 200 hot dogs during a cookout with the residents. “We had food, fun and music,” said Marianne Donahue, an agent who spearheaded the event. “Cooking for them, serving them, and chatting with them made it a special day for all involved.”
• The Glen Allen-based Innsbrook office sorted clothing donations, worked on landscaping and prepared a room for a new family at Housing Families First, a nonprofit that provides housing support services for families in Richmond.
• The Short Pump office held a food drive for FeedMore, a nonprofit that collects, prepares and distributes food to people in need.
• The Strawberry Street office held its yearly clean-up event in the 400 block of Strawberry Street in Richmond’s Fan District. “Our Strawberry Street Improvement Day has become an annual gift from our agents to the neighborhood,” said John VanderSyde, managing broker.
• The Stony Point office volunteered with Caring Clothes Closet RVA, an organization that provides clothing for families who are affected by domestic violence, as well as for malnourished children, the homeless and those re-entering the workforce.
• The Tri-Cities Southpark office, in Colonial Heights, took part in an Anthem LemonAid stand to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Agents set up a stand selling cups of lemonade outside their office on July 20. The money collected went to the Hematology and Oncology Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Richmond. “Our Realtors thoroughly enjoy participating in this yearly event,” said Nancy Steinke, branch manager.
• The Village of Midlothian office collected groceries for the Kids Summer Food Program run by Chesterfield Food Bank. So far, agents have donated more than 1,300 pounds of food in two deliveries, and a third donation is scheduled later this summer.
• Agents and employees from the Virginia Properties office, in Richmond, helped with Fairfield Court Elementary School’s Field Day in June.
• The Westham office planted flowers at the Little Sisters of the Poor assisted living facility. “Volunteering with the Little Sisters of the Poor has become a tradition that we look forward to every year,” said Philip Gee, an agent who helped organize the effort.

“It’s always a privilege to give back to our communities, which have contributed so greatly to our 50-year record of success in helping people buy and sell homes,” said Brian Haug, Long & Foster senior vice president who oversees operations in Richmond, Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia.

For a gallery of downloadable images showing the offices participating in Community Service Day, click here.

Long & Foster Real Estate is the nation’s No. 1 independent real estate brand by sales volume. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.