Disaster Response to Lasting Impact: Raymond Siddell & Together We Achieve

Many meaningful partnerships start with a simple connection, and grow into real impact for the community. 

That’s exactly the story behind Together We Achieve, a non-profit in Cedar Rapids founded by REALTOR® Raymond Siddell. 

In August 2020, when the Iowa Derecho tore through communities across the state, it left behind more than physical damage, it disrupted lives, routines, and access to basic necessities. 

For Raymond what began as a moment of crisis became a lasting commitment to the community through the non-profit Together We Achieve. 

What started as a Facebook group to connect friends, family, clients, and the community quickly turned into what I call a trading post at our real estate office,” Raymond recalls. “That effort grew quickly and became one of the largest response hubs in our area.”

Raymond and other volunteers worked tirelessly immediately following the derecho to distribute everything from tarps and roofing nails to food, water, ice, and fuel. The first weekend, the group served more than 13,000 hot meals. 

Soon, hundreds of volunteers were operating seven days a week,sometimes eight to 12 hours a day to meet the community’s needs. 

“Our entire community was impacted,” Raymond said. “Many people were without power for several days, some up to two weeks. It was chaotic, but also incredibly inspiring to see the community come together.” 

It wasn’t just the community that came together, but the REALTORS® of the area. 

From the very beginning, Raymond had the support of his fellow REALTORS®, and his broker. 

“My broker allowed us to use our real estate office as a central hub. Within a week, we had taken over the entire space, inside and out, with donations,” he said. “Many of our initial volunteers were REALTORS® from our office who stepped up immediately to help.”

A month after the derecho it had become evident that the operation was more than just a disaster response, it was something much, much bigger. 

Raymond recalls that as the recovery moved forward, gaps were identified in several areas, but most evidently in food access in the evenings and weekends. 

“Many pantries operate during traditional business hours, which can be difficult for working households or those with a single vehicle,” he said. “We wanted to create something more accessible, where people could stop in on their way home instead of making an additional trip.” 

This is when the initiative shifted to a permanent endeavor, a 501(c)(3) called Together We Achieve. 

Today, the organization operates in its own space, built to meet people where they are, not where systems expect them to be, and to provide a bridge for neighbors working toward stability, Raymond said. 

Raymond was named as a finalist and chosen as a web choice favorite in the 2021 National Association of REALTORS® Good Neighbor Awards program. The Awards recognize REALTORS® who make an extraordinary difference through volunteer service in their communities.

He credits his work as a REALTOR® with helping him to see the need in the community. 

“Real estate puts you in the middle of people’s lives,” he said. “You see more than transactions. You see challenges, transitions, and where people are struggling. As REALTORS®, we are connectors and problem solvers.” 

But seeing the problem is just the first step. 

“We work closely with people during major life transitions, and often hear things that others do not. Even when someone cannot fully articulate what they need, we are trained to listen, ask the right questions, and help guide them toward the right solution. We know how to bring people, resources, and solutions together quickly.” 

Nearly six years after the derecho, Together We Achieve continues to make a lasting impact on the community, thanks in part to Raymond’s leadership and the network he’s curated. 

“As your network grows, so does your ability to connect people and resources,” he said. “We have seen that firsthand through partnerships with our local and state REALTOR® associations, whether through volunteer support or financial contributions. We have also had REALTORS® and clients donate, and agents within our network share our pantry as a resource with people they know who are in need.”

For others considering getting involved in their communities through non-profit work, Raymond encourages them to “do it, but be intentional.” 

“Find something you actually care about. When it aligns with what matters to you, your involvement becomes more genuine and more impactful,” he said. “It is some of the most fulfilling work you will do, and you will likely see the impact firsthand in ways you did not expect.” 

Learn more about Together We Achieve and connect on Facebook or Instagram. Interested in volunteering or partnering with Together We Achieve? Send them an email!