By Town Crier Report

More than 250 realtor and affiliate members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors were out in the community during the week of May 18-25 helping seniors with repairs and other tasks in their homes through RSSVP (Realtor Safety and Service Volunteer Program).

The community outreach program served more than 215 homes in the communities of Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Woodside, Los Altos, Mountain View, Los Gatos and Saratoga.

The cost-free program provides a hands-on effort by local realtors and affiliate members of the 3,000-member non-profit trade association that serves communities in Silicon Valley.

Small teams of volunteers washed windows, cleaned gutters, turned mattresses, changed smoke detector batteries and provided other desired and necessary health and safety tasks.

“There are lots of things seniors aren’t physically able to take care of around the house. It doesn’t matter where they live. Many seniors are on limited incomes even though they may live in a neighborhood with nice homes,” said broker Dennis Byron of Byron and Associates in Los Gatos. “Hiring someone to wash windows, for instance, would take a big bite out of someone’s income. This is a way for us to give something back.”

The outreach program was created and implemented last year in Menlo Park, Atherton and Palo Alto and was expanded this year throughout the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors service area to include the communities of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Mountain View and Los Altos.

In the Los Altos/Mountain View area, 60 volunteers turned out over the May 18-19 weekend to lend a hand to help seniors in 26 homes.

In the Palo Alto/Menlo Park area, more than 150 volunteers helped seniors in 115 homes.

“We’re very excited to see this program branching out to reach more people who need help,” said Alicia Tuvell, president of Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. “Our members want to do something positive in their communities and this is one way for them to really make a difference.”

The program is funded by the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors Charitable Foundation and through direct donations from realtors, affiliates and friends.