Good Neighbor Spotlight: Tracey Oringer

Tracey Oringer is passionate about building community and creating opportunity for young families on Cape Cod. She’s used her career as a REALTOR® to get involved in the community and to help make this happen.

Growing up in the area, she understands that there are families who struggle to afford the high cost of Cape housing. “We’re such a vacation area and prices for housing are so expensive,” Tracey said. “I hate to think of all the local young families not being able to stay here or be pushed out.”

Throughout her real estate career, Tracey has worked hard as an advocate for first-time home buyers. Having gone through the process herself, she understands that a small down payment might be everything that the buyer has to offer at that moment - and that a small down payment shouldn’t stand in the way of homeownership.

“I am constantly thinking about the young families on the Cape,” Tracey said. “I love working with the young families and helping them get into their first home.”

Advocating for first-time home buyers is only a small part of her efforts to support young families on Cape Cod. Tracey is just as passionate about helping underprivileged children in the community by volunteering for Katelynn’s Closet, an organization that provides clothing for disadvantaged children in the community. For the past seven years, Tracey has supported the organization by stocking shelves with seasonal clothing, soliciting donations for fundraising events and working the nonprofit’s main fundraiser, the Adult Easter Egg Hunt.

“When my kids were little and I was a single mom, I didn’t have much help,” Tracey said. “Now that I am able to do more, it’s really important for me to give back because I know what it was like.”

Katelynn’s Closet distributed 1,142 clothing bags and gift cards to families last year, according to the organization’s founder, Ann Bearse. Tracey contributed an estimated 350 volunteer hours to ensure children in need had three days worth of emergency clothing.

“She’s one of those people who doesn’t need the most fun job, Ann said. “She goes above and beyond, and comes back every year to help us.”

According to Ann, Tracey has spent additional time educating her own networks about Katelynn’s Closet and communicating the organizational needs.

“She’s really been able to get us more supporters,” Ann added. “She’s always willing to help us in any way that we need.”

In addition to her time and dedication to Katelynn’s Closet, Tracey leads the Kinlin Grover Brewster office in community service projects throughout the year, including a biennial charity yard sale, Toys for Tots initiative, Dress-a-Live-Doll event and Adopt-A-Family effort during the holidays.

“Our office has always been very philanthropic and Tracey has been a leader in organizing these activities,” said colleague and REALTOR®, Amy Harbeck. “It’s remarkable to me that someone so busy will still have it in them to invest so much time in causes that help other people.”

Raising approximately $6,000-$7,000 every other year, the office’s yard sale generates enough funds to support five different charities in the area. The effort, led by Tracey, also enables the Kinlin Grover Brewster team to spend $175 per child during their Adopt-A-Family initiative around the holidays.

“It’s just an incredible effort on her part despite how busy she is.”Amy said. “Tracey really cares about people in the community, especially those that might not be as fortunate.”

Each year, the Kinlin Grover Brewster office works together to provide eight local families with complete Thanksgiving meals. With Tracey’s encouragement, the team assigns themselves a list of food items to purchase a week before the holiday. The Thanksgiving dinners are then dropped off at the two elementary schools in Brewster, going toward four families from each school.

“Tracey very selflessly contributes a lot back to the community, putting in hours and effort to help other people in need, Amy said. “She puts in the time and that’s pretty unique.”

Remarkably, Tracey’s devotion to support her community goes even further to the community’s animals in need. Whether it’s cleaning blankets or asking other REALTORS® to donate bedding, Tracey doesn’t forget the animals in need at the Animal Rescue League of Cape Cod.

“I’ve always been one to be working for charitable causes,” Tracey said. “It’s just part of what I’ve always done.