The Southern Berks News

Zuber Realty donates to Toys for Tots

Realty company collected toy donations, hosted Santa visits and Holiday Light Tour

- By Lisa Mitchell lmitchell@berksmontn­ews.com

For the holidays, Richard A. Zuber Realty delivered a donation to Toys for Tots, hosted Santa events for families and selected winners for its annual Holiday Light Tour.

Hundreds of toys collected at Zuber Realty’s Boyertown and Royersford locations were packed into the Zuber bus and delivered to the Salvation Army of Boyertown for distributi­on to children through the Toys for Tots Angel Tree program.

“We are grateful for the efforts of Zuber Realty in collecting toys for low-income families and for the generosity and compassion demonstrat­ed through this effort,” Salvation Army Captain Rebecca Smith said in a release. “It’s always heartwarmi­ng to know our communitie­s care.”

This was Zuber Realty’s 16th year collecting toy donations for Toys for Tots.

“The opportunit­y to help children, the chance to meet members of their communitie­s, and be surrounded daily with evidence of compassion and caring for others make this annual commitment an ‘automatic go,’” said owner Richard Zuber. “The mission of the Zuber Realty organizati­on is, ‘We Work for You!’ and making sure that children have smiles on their faces on Christmas morning is a special way we serve!”

Santa Visits

Santa, a few of his elves, and the Grinch visited with more than 60 children and families at the Zuber Insurance office in Boyertown and the Richard A. Zuber Realty office in Royersford.

“Grinch was a huge attraction,” said agent Betsy Bellantoni. “One little girl couldn’t care less about Santa, but she wouldn’t let the Grinch alone.”

Bellantoni coordinate­d the Santa visit events.

“The Santa visits provided some heartwarmi­ng and funny moments,” she said.

One mom in Royersford brought her son thinking he was dropping off toys for Toys for Tots.

“His face was priceless when he came in and saw Santa,” said Bellantoni.

Photograph­s with Santa were taken and framed as a free gift to the children and their families.

“Typically, the youngest children are always afraid, and Mom has to play with them to get the photo taken. They want nothing to do with Santa! But one family of five introduced their 7-day-old newborn son to Santa, hoping perhaps that early bonding with Santa would decrease his fear in a few years,” she said.

Another little boy declared, “I know that’s Santa. His beard is real!”

And his beard was real. Santa shaves every year in January and in June starts to let his beard grow in again, said Bellantoni.

“To see and feel the different reactions to Santa from the children is so special. We let the children choose their coloring book. That was an event in itself. I wasn’t aware that it could be such a difficult decision!”

Zuber Realty offered refreshmen­ts, gifted the families with framed photograph­s of the children with Santa, and offered a goodie bag to take home.

“Overall, our Santa visit days are so rewarding,” said Bellantoni. “Families are so thankful. For example, one mother was afraid she would have to pay for the pictures and so grateful they were compliment­ary.”

Holiday Light Tour

Zuber Realty hosted its Holiday Light Tour for the third year.

Homeowners within a 10-mile radius of Boyertown were invited to add to the festivitie­s of the season by decorating their homes and registerin­g to be part of the Holiday Light Tour from Dec. 4 to Jan. 2. There was no charge to participat­e or vote during this family-friendly COVID-safe event.

Tour-goers drove past the 25 decorated homes on the tour identified by yard signs and then voted for their favorite, with 250 people voting online.

Tour-goers drove past the 25 decorated homes on the tour and voted for their favorite with 250 votes.

Winners were announced on Jan. 7. The grand prize of a $100 gift card was offered to the Grand Prize-winning home. Category winners received $50. One randomlydr­awn voter received $50.

• The Grand Prize winner is 241 South Franklin St., Boyertown.

• The Clark Griswold Award went to 919 North Reading Ave., Boyertown.

• The True Meaning of Christmas was presented to 209 N. Monroe St., Boyertown.

• Most Elegant was awarded to 253 West Seven Stars Road, Phoenixvil­le.

• The Kids Choice Award was presented to 734 Cherry St., Bally.

• The Random Award was given to Pete Meridith.

For more informatio­n and a full list of the Holiday Light Tour, go to https:// www.zuberrealt­y.com/lig httour/?fbclid=IwAR1WL CPDsixGadL­GCofRXeOy lJf-R4H-XDJOUjVy-sunTw81lO-2E0UOXrY.

 ?? ?? Zuber Realty agent Brian Gilbert adds to the collection of toys donated by the Boyertown and Royersford communitie­s for Toys for Tots. The toys were delivered to the Salvation Army of Boyertown for the Angel Tree program.
Zuber Realty agent Brian Gilbert adds to the collection of toys donated by the Boyertown and Royersford communitie­s for Toys for Tots. The toys were delivered to the Salvation Army of Boyertown for the Angel Tree program.
 ?? ?? Left to right: Zuber Realty agents Brian Gilbert and Karl Stauffer, Salvation Army Captain Rebecca Smith, Zuber Realty owner Richard A. Zuber drop off donations for Toys for Tots at the Salvation Army of Boyertown.
Left to right: Zuber Realty agents Brian Gilbert and Karl Stauffer, Salvation Army Captain Rebecca Smith, Zuber Realty owner Richard A. Zuber drop off donations for Toys for Tots at the Salvation Army of Boyertown.
 ?? ?? The Grinch was a big hit during the Santa visits with families at the Zuber Insurance office in Boyertown and the Richard A. Zuber Realty office in Royersford.
The Grinch was a big hit during the Santa visits with families at the Zuber Insurance office in Boyertown and the Richard A. Zuber Realty office in Royersford.
 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTOS ?? Photograph­s with Santa were taken and framed as a free gift to the children and their families.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS Photograph­s with Santa were taken and framed as a free gift to the children and their families.
 ?? ?? Holiday Light Tour True Meaning of Christmas winner.
Holiday Light Tour True Meaning of Christmas winner.
 ?? ?? Holiday Light Tour Elegant and Traditiona­l winner,
Holiday Light Tour Elegant and Traditiona­l winner,
 ?? ?? Holiday Light Tour Clark Griswold Award winner.
Holiday Light Tour Clark Griswold Award winner.
 ?? ?? Holiday Light Tour Kids Choice Award winner.
Holiday Light Tour Kids Choice Award winner.
 ?? ?? Holiday Light Tour Grand Prize winner.
Holiday Light Tour Grand Prize winner.

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