ST. JOSEPH — The Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS recently celebrated its first annual holiday luncheon and fundraising auction. 

Suitcases for Kids has been the Association’s charity of choice for 14 years. This program helps foster children in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties and has been a priority for realtors and ancillary service members of the association, said officials.

Association members knew there were other children in need. So instead of just one children’s charity, they added the President’s Choice Charity to the event, according to organizers.

Mark VanDusen, 2019 president of the association, selected Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan as the president’s charity.

Members, seeing the perfect fit to fulfill their goal of giving back to their communities, eagerly participated and challenged each other during the silent and live auctions for both charities. By the end of the luncheon, the total raised was $29,740, according to group officials.

VanDusen chose Ronald McDonald House based on personal experience.

“In 1988, the RMH in Indianapolis helped my family in the time of need while my youngest son was at Riley’s Children’s Hospital for heart surgery,” he said. “I felt it was important that if we were going to give to a charity, it should be one that helps families in the areas we live and work. The Ronald McDonald Houses run on charitable donations, volunteer help and grants. They provide a place for families to stay that have children age 18 or less in one of the hospitals located in the Grand Rapids area. Families are provided rooms, transportation, meals, laundry, and much more at no cost.

“Families that stay there become friends and sometimes become a bigger family with the others that share the same heartaches others do. By families being able to stay at the RMHWM, they can focus on what is most important, that would be their child in the hospital. They don’t have to worry about fixing meals or worry about how they will afford a place to stay while their child is in the hospital.”

Throughout the year, realtors maintain the challenge to help foster children, officials said. Among the many facts that realtors have learned is that most children in foster care carry their belongings in black garbage bags when moved to foster care, and each child averages seven moves while in foster care.

The association’s Suitcases for Kids Committee collected new backpacks and numerous personal items during August and September from donation boxes placed in real estate offices throughout the area. It also raised $14,820 in cash donations at the association holiday luncheon to help Berrien, Van Buren and Cass counties’ foster children.

This fundraiser benefits local foster children under the supervision of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in each county. Many of the children have very little or no personal items that they can take with them when they are moved into foster care. The new backpacks, new clothing and personal healthcare items make a huge impact during a sad and confusing time for foster children, officials said.

The MDDHS directors for all three counties thanked the realtors and other fundraiser participants for their support and gave insight into what the program means to them personally and for the children under their supervision.

Mindy Dinges, Cass County DHHS, thanked the group.

“The donations we received will allow the children we work with an opportunity to participate in age-appropriate activities with their peers. Some of these activities include after school events, sports, music programs, and camps,” she said. “These activities can help make a positive difference to children who are going through a stressful situation.”

The Suitcases for Kids committee members included Angela Nutto (chair), Chelley Bussey, Kim O’Donoghue, and Dodie VanDyke.

The 2019 Holiday Fundraiser Committee included Karen Snyder (Chair), Tammy Anders, Lori Bennett, Karin Buda, Carolee Dalymple, Melannie Hay, Adam Hooten, Marilyn Lomonaco, Angela Nutto, Mark VanDusen, Mary Watkins, Sherri Hausmann, and Stephany Kohles.