As the year winds down, I’ve been spending time reflecting on what truly matters—and once again, community rises to the top of the list. What we’ve been able to accomplish together this year is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Through our Home Fresh Program, every home sold continues to create a ripple effect far beyond the transaction itself. For each closing,1,000 pounds of fresh produce are donated to local food banks. Because of your trust and support, we were able to donate 36,000 pounds in 2025, bringing our total contributions since 2016 to 320,000 pounds. Every client, referral, and conversation plays a role in making that possible, and I’m deeply thankful for each of you.
This spirit of giving carried strongly into the holiday season. Together with generous community members and local businesses, we helped provide Thanksgiving meals for 116 local families in the Lynden community. Thanks to donations totaling $6,975, families were able to gather around a full table and enjoy a meaningful holiday meal.
Giving back isn’t something we reserve for one season—it’s woven into the culture of the office I’m proud to be part of. Throughout the year, our team consistently shows up for our neighbors, finding ways to support those facing food insecurity and other challenges. Through multiple food drives, we collectively raised $4,361 and donated 2786 pounds of food to VOA Western Washington food banks, helping meet a growing need in our area.
One of the most heartfelt efforts of the year was partnering once again with Washington Kids in Transition. This incredible organization supports students experiencing homelessness or housing instability—many living in shelters, cars, tents, or temporary housing. This holiday season, our office came together to adopt the wish lists of 25 local youth, ensuring they received gifts and support they might otherwise have gone without.
Beyond the holidays, Washington Kids in Transition provides emergency closets (coats, diapers, toiletries, etc.), hotel vouchers, utility assistance, rental deposits, and a teen mentorship program, as they attempt to break what is often a generational cycle of homelessness/poverty. This year, we also donated an additional $3,260 to WA Kids for them to pilot a new art program for teens to address trauma, bullying, and other emotional stressors.
None of this happens in isolation. Every pound of food donated, every family supported, and every young person helped is a direct result of the trust you place in me and the work we do together. Whether you worked with me this year, referred a friend, or simply cheered us on, you played a role in these outcomes.
As we look ahead to 2026, my commitment remains the same: to continue using this business as a platform for good and to keep showing up for the communities we call home. Thank you for being part of this journey—I’m so grateful to do this work alongside you.