Coordinated locally by Los Gatos Realtors Valerie Brand of Village Square Realty and Matthew Spencer of Alain Pinel Realtors, the annual hands-on effort took place in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties May 16-21.

Brand, who also chairs the community events committee for the Los Gatos/Saratoga district of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, worked with the Los Gatos and Saratoga senior centers and the Health and Happiness to You program to identify seniors who needed assistance.

"The organizations were exceptional in working with us to bring the seniors and the Realtors together and help with the sign-up process. We had 79 Realtors participating this year and were pleased to increase the number of homes from about 30 last year to 48 this year. It's a lot of work to coordinate but extremely rewarding," Brand said.

Brand identifies with the seniors who need help in a very personal way since she took care of her grandmother for 17 years.

"I appreciate what they are going through when they can't do simple things for themselves," Brand said. "One lady had a stroke and doesn't have the use of her hands. She lives alone so she was very thankful for us to come out and do some work. We cleaned her stove, oven and refrigerator and washed her windows."

Participants in the program can choose from a list of tasks so that the work is customized to the needs of each person. The tasks range from routine households duties to taking care of safety issues. Realtors go out in teams of three to work in the homes.

"We always make sure smoke detectors are working and the batteries are fresh," Brand said. "It's also nice for the homeowners to have the company."

Brand said one of the more popular Realtors involved in the program this year was Dan Turkus of Turkus Real Estate in Monte Sereno due to his special plumbing skills. Brand also expressed her appreciation to Los Gatos Community and Good Samaritan hospitals for their generosity in providing gifts for the senior citizens. Each homeowner receives a bag filled with community service information.

For C.T. Harris, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Los Gatos, the program is an opportunity to give something back to the community. During his service, Harris spent time on the roof cleaning gutters. He also trimmed hedges, replaced a showerhead and washed windows.

"These are people who still want to participate in the community but can't do a lot of things they did before. Today, they wouldn't even be able to buy their own home. So helping them out is a way to give back and help them stay in their homes," Harris said. "Reaching out makes the community a better place to live."

Realtor Brian Bernasconi with Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos has been involved with the program for two years. This year he helped preview homes by talking with the homeowners to identify tasks that needed to be completed. On his checklist were tasks as simple as programming a VCR to more complicated jobs such as repairing leaky faucets.

"Things become challenging as people get older. I spent at least 40 minutes doing these interviews, mostly in general conversation. The homeowners thrive and feel very fortunate to have the attention," Bernasconi said.

The Realtors in the community are concerned about others, Bernasconi said, and he feels the program is a good opportunity to assist those who are not as fortunate.

"We bring care and community to these people. All of us get overextended, especially here in Silicon Valley with all the things we have to do. I'd like to encourage people to get involved because when you give it out in slices, you get it back in loaves," Bernasconi said.

A board member for the Charitable Foundation Trust and the incoming chair of the Los Gatos/Saratoga district for the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, Bernasconi believes Realtors are making a difference in the community. "The foundation is a vehicle to return funds and assistance to the community on an ongoing basis every year," he said.

Matthew Spencer, the local co-chair of the Realtor Service Volunteer Program and a Realtor with Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos, was enthused about the participation from all the local Realtor companies and affiliate members of the association who provide industry-related services.

"It's a lot of fun and it is so nice to see the appreciation in the eyes of the homeowners for the simple tasks we do for them. We are looking to take on even more homes next year and reach out to more seniors," Spencer said.

For more information, call Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at 650.949.9115.