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Welcome Wagon The Takoma Foundation and local real estate agents are teaming up to say “welcome” to new homeowners. “We want to revive the small-town ‘welcome wagon’ spirit,” said Pam Larson, president of the Foundation. Participating agents join the Foundation as supporting members (a $250 contribution) and agree to purchase memberships in the Foundation when their clients settle in the area. The Foundation, meanwhile, provides a welcome packet chock-full of important information -- key phone numbers, coupons from Old Takoma stores, city recreation and public works schedules and information about local nursery schools, nonprofit organizations and sports leagues. It also includes a one-year Takoma Foundation membership and information that will welcome the new homeowner into the greater Takoma community. "Many of us saw the opportunities for a win-win-win,” said Robbi Kimball, one of the first real estate agents to sign up for the program and the first to buy a welcome packet membership for a client. Other agents who were quick to sign up for the program were Carol Cutini, David Maplesden, Jim Mulrooney and Hank Prensky. Several more are expected to join soon. The ongoing program originated with the Foundation, where board members saw the realtors as natural partners. "With home values increasing so dramatically these past years, asking the realtors to join forces with those of us focused on local giving seemed to make a lot of sense,” said Pam Larson. The next phase will be making the welcome packets available to new renters, too. The Foundation intends to reach out to local landlords and ask for their participation as well. Local businesses and nonprofits who are interested in having their information included in the welcome packets, and agents and landlords interested in participating, should contact Pam Larson at pjlarson220@earthlink.net. |
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