Making a Difference - 2020
Challenging times often bring out the best in people, and as the COVID-19 crisis spread across the US, we found this to be especially true in our communities across the country. ELS, we believe in celebrating community – it’s at the core of what we do.
While the sense of community is always alive and well at our properties, that spirit has been truly inspiring in the wake of the pandemic. From creating care packages to delivering hot meals to making face masks and more, we’ve seen so many examples of neighbors reaching out to help neighbors, working together to help first responders, doing good works for their greater communities. These acts of kindness enhance the bonds our customers have with each other and to our communities. We are proud to help foster these efforts in our communities.
Inspired by these endeavors, ELS has launched an initiative to support these efforts aimed at Making a Difference in Our Communities. Through direct outreach via the property operations team, we have identified good works, big and small, happening in our communities today that we are supporting with a charitable donation. Some are resident-led, some coordinated by homeowner associations, others are non-profit agencies that assist our residents, but all are Making a Difference in Our Communities.
This fantastic community spirit is fostered by the leadership of our on-site team members who embody our values of enthusiasm, empathy, communication and ownership.
Following are just a few examples of the wonderful efforts that are Making a Difference in Our Communities that we are proud to support.
Cimarron Park
Family Means, a non-profit organization that helps families in need has helped many young residents at Cimarron Park (Lake Elmo, MN) through their Youth Development program. The program equips children and teens to learn, thrive, connect and contribute to the local community throughout their lives.
Pine Acres
Local non-profit Raymond Food Pantry provides food to more than 5,000 people in need each year in the area surrounding Pine Acres Campground (Raymond, NH). The organization has seen an increased demand for their services due to COVID-19.
Greenwood Village
Residents from Greenwood Village (Manorville, NY) organized a mission to acquire fabric to make masks for local hospitals. These are the nurses at State University New York Hospital in Brooklyn who received the masks our residents made.
Meadowbrook
Residents of Meadowbrook (Santee, CA) organized a neighborhood food pantry where residents could come and take the food they need. The goal is to help residents in need meet their food needs to the extent possible without having to leave the community.
Ramblers Rest
One guest staying at Ramblers Rest (Venice, FL) has put her time to good use and has made masks for others in the resort. She packages them in individual bags and leaves them near the road so passersby can grab a facemask.
Holiday Village
Volunteers with the Cares Program at Holiday Village (Colorado Springs, CO) have been making masks to put in the supply and comfort bags for community residents. Volunteers have been delivering supplies, making masks and also making well check calls to people to make sure they are okay.
Silver Key is a non-profit organization that provides the Connections Café low cost lunch program for residents of Holiday Village (Colorado Springs, CO) five days a week.
Emerald Lake
The homeowners’ association at Emerald Lake (Punta Gorda, FL) decided to help out residents who are the most at risk in their community. They divided up a list of residents who were unable to leave their homes and each member was responsible for helping a small group of residents with varying tasks such as delivering food, getting their mail, picking up medications and any other needs. Every week the group switched up who they would assist to make sure that residents who didn’t know each other could get a chance to converse.
Sedona Shadows
Three wonderfully philanthropic residents of Sedona Shadows (Sedona, AZ) asked fellow residents for food donations to be dropped to one of their homes and they put together bags of food and delivered them to the doorsteps of 36 residents in need.
Mid Florida Lakes
Resident sewing clubs, Sew B It and Silver Threads, at Mid Florida Lakes (Leesburg, FL) have put their resources together to make masks for residents in the community and first responders.
Monte Vista
One special guest of Monte Vista (Mesa, AZ) has been making masks in her RV. So far she's made 457 masks and plans to make at least 150 more masks. The masks have been sent to clinics, the Humane Society, First America Title Company, Walmart, home care facilities and first responders throughout the country and now she is distributing masks to the residents of Monte Vista.
Island Vista Estates
Members of the homeowners’ association at Island Vista Estates (N. Ft. Myers, FL) have been making lunches for the students in the community who have been out of school.