I saw a notice that RALSC was co-sponsoring a blood drive. Before contacting her, I did a little research and the web is filled with stories from the American Red Cross about blood shortages due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I decided it was a timely subject, so I reached out to Addie.
In the beginning of our conversation Addie said one of her goals as president this year is to rise to the position of helping the community, as RALSC is the largest not-for-profit organization in Lake and Sumter Counties Florida. She shared that a few years ago, while attending a NAR event, she noticed a banner stating that 68% of all REALTORS® are involved in volunteer leadership in their community. She was shocked with the number, but when you consider young sports coaches, PTA, local government, civic organizations, church leaders and other roles quietly filled by real estate professionals it makes sense.
This year RALSC established a relationship with L.A.S.E.R. which stands for Lake and Sumter Emergency Response. The mission of L.A.S.E.R. is to strengthen Lake and Sumter Counties’ recovery from any disaster through a coordinated community-wide approach which provides for the immediate and long-term unmet needs of their citizens.
Addie reached out to L.A.S.E.R. at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and asked what the association could do to help. L.A.S.E.R. was preparing to conduct a much-needed blood drive and RALSC committed to join in to help. On April 9th RALSC will be hosting “One Blood One Drive” in the parking lot of the association. The members, families, staff and friends of RALSC will be using their contacts to help fill all the available time slots available to give blood. This is a great example of the REALTOR® family giving back to the community!
While speaking with Addie she mentioned that one of her members was the perfect example of REALTOR®/HERO for me to write abotu, Stephenie Winheim. We set up a time to talk and I was excited to have a chance to interview this remarkable person. Stephenie has been a REALTOR® for the past four years working with Dave Lowe Realty in Mount Dora, Florida. Before becoming a REALTOR® she was, and still is, a nurse, but she is committed to real estate full time. Stephenie was also doing outside marketing for Regency Park Assisted Living and Memory Care until Covid-19 changed our lives. With Stephenie’s more than a decade of experience at bedside care as a nurse and the need for extra staffing, she returned to nursing at Regency Park to oversee patient and staff needs.
Regency Park Assisted Living has 42 patients in their memory care facility, which is where Stephenie spends her time. With the fear of Covid-19 spreading in care facilities like Regency Park the patients are confined to their rooms. This has been a traumatic experience for the patients as they don’t understand why. The facility is also not allowing outside visitors in the building, so some visitors are going to the windows to see their loved ones while the patients don’t understand why they can’t come in. Stephenie shared most of the memory care patients are completely confused as their world has been turned upside down as their routines have dramatically changed. With memory care patients, a normal routine is best for them. One patient’s daughter came in every evening and helped her shower, but now that the daughter can’t come in she is totally confused and is losing track of days and times. This is where Stephenie is stepping in to help with the new routine.
I can’t imagine helping 42 people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia normally but adding the situation of them not being able to understand why the world has changed due to Covid-19. I can’t imagine going to work each day worried my job could be in a petri dish but Stephenie Winheim you do and that makes you a REALTOR®/HERO!