Aspire North REALTORS® Coat Drive Wraps Up with Warmth, Generosity & Community Support

11.13.2026

By Heather Sauer

As the temperatures begin to drop across Northern Michigan, Aspire North REALTORS® came together to help ensure our neighbors have something warm to wear this winter through our annual Coat Drive.

This year’s Coat Drive officially kicked off at our General Membership Meeting on October 21 and ran through November 6. Thanks to the generosity of our members, affiliate partners, local businesses, and community supporters, we were able to collect an incredible number of coats and winter accessories for individuals and families in need.

A Community Effort Worth Celebrating

A huge THANK YOU goes out to the offices and businesses that volunteered to serve as collection locations and helped spread the word. Your willingness to open your doors and support this effort made a meaningful difference!

Our 2026 Collection Locations:

Alta Vista – Traverse City
Aspire North REALTORS® – Traverse City
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Traverse City
Century 21 Northland – Traverse City
Coldwell Banker Schmidt – Traverse City
Homewaters, LLC – Traverse City
Lighthouse Title Group – Cadillac
Lighthouse Title Group – Mancelona
Mid-American Title – Beulah
Real Estate One Randolph – Traverse City
RE/MAX Bayshore – Traverse City
Schaub Team Premier Realty – Suttons Bay
The Mitten Real Estate Group – Traverse City
Wittbrodt Waterside Properties – Elk Rapids

We are grateful to every location that participated and to everyone who donated, collected, and encouraged others to get involved!

Sorting, Delivering & Making a Difference

On Thursday, November 12, Alexa Painter, Dennis Fox, Karlie Acton, and Clinton Herigstad volunteered their time to sort through the donations and prepare everything for delivery. Their help ensured that the coats and winter accessories were organized and ready to reach the organizations serving our community.

Together, we collected an impressive total:

83 gently used coats
58 brand-new coats
58 hats and gloves

On Friday, November 13, the donations were delivered to two local organizations.

At 9:00 a.m., Laurie Fischer and Heather Sauer delivered the first load of donations to Child & Family Services.

At 11:00 a.m., Laurie Fischer, Heather Sauer, Mandy Brown, and Brooke Brown delivered another load to Traverse Health Clinic.

Both organizations do important work supporting individuals and families throughout our community, and we are proud to help provide some extra warmth as winter approaches.

Thank You for Being Right By You!

Community involvement is at the heart of what makes Aspire North REALTORS® special. Whether you donated a coat, hosted a collection box, helped sort donations, or assisted with deliveries, every contribution helped make this year's drive a success.

We are incredibly thankful for our members, affiliate partners, participating offices, volunteers, and community supporters who stepped up to make a difference.

Together, we collected more than just coats—we shared warmth, kindness, and a reminder that our community looks out for one another.

Thank you for helping Aspire North REALTORS® make a difference, one coat at a time!

Heather Sauer

Heather Sauer is the Human Resource Manager for Aspire North Realtors, bringing a strong background in human resources, leadership, and business strategy. She began her career in retail management while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwood University, later transitioning into human resources at Target, where she served as an Executive Team Leader of Human Resources. During this time, she earned her MBA from the Northwood University DeVos Graduate School.

After relocating to Traverse City, Michigan, Heather continued her HR career with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), managing more than 30 client accounts and partnering closely with leadership teams on employee relations, compliance, and organizational development. In the fall of 2023, she expanded her professional experience into business development and entrepreneurship.

In addition to her role at Aspire North Realtors, Heather is also an independent travel agent, helping individuals, families, and groups plan seamless, memorable travel experiences. Her passion for service, organization, and relationship-building carries through both her HR and travel work.