September 26, 2017
What was scheduled as Keller Williams second largest annual real estate convention in Austin, Texas quickly became a relief effort in Houston for almost 4,000 real estate agents and staff from 13 countries.
Among the team of professional REALTORS® turned relief workers were Christina Arcangioli, Broker and Team Leader, Keller Williams Energy and Chris Davies, Broker and Operating Partner, Keller Williams Energy with offices located in both Whitby and Oshawa.
“Rather than cancelling our arrangements that were made to attend the convention, we redirected them and decided that it was an opportunity to help those devastated by the storm at the highest level we could. The next thing I knew, we were part of a well-oiled relief machine helping those in Houston,” says Arcangioli.
The annual conference, known as MEGA Camp, has been recently renamed as MEGA Relief. The conference was to take place Sept 11 – 15 at the Austin Convention Centre.
However, things changed dramatically when Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas coast on August 25th prompting communities like Austin to open refugee centers in areas far from the storm.
Chris Davies says, “We were uncertain whether the convention centre would be available but we all knew that there was something far more important happening 2.5 hours to our south. It didn’t take very long to know that Houston is where we needed to be.”
Shortly after arriving in Houston, the 4,000 Keller Williams agents were tasked with a variety of jobs across the region. Chris and Christina worked in the heat to muck out homes damaged by the floodwater, sorting donation supplies and materials.
“We had to remove everything from furniture and personal belonging to drywall and appliances. It all had to get to the curb before damage became irreparable.”
Christina adds, “To see the magnitude of the destruction first-hand was just devastating. But to see the humanitarian effort taking place was just incredible.”
The Keller Williams family, internationally, is fundraising to help further the relief effort with an ambitious goal of $20-million that Christina is optimistic they will reach.
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