Recognizing the critical role food banks have played during the pandemic and the continued need for their services, the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA), which represents rental housing providers and professional residential services in Maryland, and the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA), which represents commercial office building and multi-family residential real estate in the Washington, D.C. area, teamed up recently for a friendly competition to see which organization could collect the most donations for its respective food bank.
“The food banks are a resource utilized by many of our members’ residents, which made this donation drive even more important,” said Jessie Keller, government and community affairs manager, MMHA. “This competition was a creative way to engage both organizations’ members and we are proud of all of the members and their staff for stepping up to the plate to make an impact in the region.”
Together, the organizations collected nearly 12,000 pounds of food and raised more than $8,200. Thanks to donations from MMHA members such as Morgan Properties, Greystar, Regional Management, Inc. and Westminster Management, the organization was able to donate 7,622 pounds of food and $2,228 to the Maryland Food Bank. AOBA, with the support of its members including Blake Real Estate, Keener Management and Scott Management, collected more than 4,400 pounds of food and $6,000 for the Capital Area Food Bank.
“While this was a competition between the organizations, the real winners were the food banks,” said Jeanne Clarke, vice president of finance & operations, AOBA. “Now, more than ever these organizations need our support and I’m honored that our members were able to play a role in helping residents throughout the region.”
The donation “competition” between the two organizations took place between Oct. 26 and Nov. 16. Members from both organizations set-up collection boxes at their offices and their properties to collect nonperishable food items. Additionally, members asked people to donate virtually and purchase wholesale items for the food banks.
The Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) is a professional trade association established in 1996, whose membership consists of owners and managers of more than 215,228 rental housing homes in more than 997 apartment communities. Our members house over 561,000 residents of the State of Maryland throughout the entire State of Maryland. MMHA membership also includes more than 221 associate members that supply goods and services to the multi-housing industry. More information is available at https://www.mmhaonline.org/
The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA) is the leading membership organization representing commercial office building and multi-family residential real estate in the Washington, D.C. area. Serving members since its establishment in 1974, AOBA continues to protect and enhance the value of its members investments through effective leadership and advocacy, information exchange, and professional development. More information is available at https://www.aoba-metro.org/.
