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Realty Seven Gives a Holiday Gift
By Jeff Yates, Wilton Bulletin, 12/05/05

A Wilton Family will soon be receiving a new computer, thanks to the efforts of real estate agents at Realty Seven Inc at 250 Danbury Road.

After learning from Suzanne Van Vechten, the town’s director of social services, of a Wilton family with four children whose parents are currently unemployed, the real estate agents decided they could help out. More than 20 agents at the firm donated a portion of their most recent commissions to purchase the computer, which will be given to the parents to wrap for their children and place under their Christmas tree.

The four children had been without a working computer for the past six months.

The Realtors haven’t stopped there, however, and plan to create an ongoing fund to provide Ms. Van Vechten with money for other needy families in town throughout the entire year, not just during the holidays.

“In today’s day and age the kids need a computer to do their work,” said Realtor Mark Ketley, during an interview at the agency’s office last week.

“We’re going to be working hand-in-hand with Suzanne whenever she has a need,” he said.

The gift from the Realtors comes at just the right time, as Ms. Van Vechten says most of the money, food and other gifts her department has solicited has already been allocated to helping Wilton families going through tough times.

“This is the second computer we’ve given out this year,” said Ms. Van Vechten. “We’ve helped more than 30 families this year,” with aid such as helping people “with security deposits, providing one month’s rent, payment towards a single mortgage bill,” and providing food coupons to local supermarkets and donating non-perishable food, she said.

Residents have also received aid with repairing their cars so they could continue to get to work, said Ms. Van Vechten.

Mr. Ketley said the real estate agents were looking for a way to give back to the town, and the new fund and computer purchase seemed a natural way of making a difference locally.

“People who buy from us, they can know that a portion of that sale is going to a Wilton charity and only a Wilton charity,” he said.

Ms. Van Vechten said that while Wilton families struggling to get by may not always be visible, the need is very real.

Working with the school social workers, Ms. Van Vechten’s department identifies families who are having a tough time and offers to help them get through.

For many families, she said, the aid is a one-time response to help a family get back on its feet.

A single mother who was evicted from her home over the summer received a $5,000 loan from the social services department to get her possessions out of storage, and now has paid back most of that loan after getting back on her feet, said Ms. Van Vechten.

“None of this is part of the town’s budget, so this is really wonderful,” she said of the new computer.

Information: Department of Social Services at 834-6238

© Copyright 2005 by Hersam Acorn newspapers

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