Meet 2025 GAAR Good Neighbor Juanita Wilson

REALTOR® Juanita Wilson has dedicated her time to helping individuals and families in the Rio Rancho community find support when they need it most. Through her volunteer work with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP), Juanita helps provide that support with compassion, dignity, and a willingness to listen.

For many of the neighbors she meets, an unexpected hardship can quickly put the stability of a household at risk. Through SVDP, Juanita is there during those challenging moments, helping people access critical assistance while ensuring they feel heard and cared for along the way.

Meeting Neighbors Where They Are

Founded in Paris in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has grown into an international organization dedicated to serving people experiencing poverty and financial hardship. That mission continues locally through volunteers like Juanita.

As an SVDP home visitor, Juanita meets each week with people seeking help with rent or utility payments. Working alongside another volunteer, she visits applicants in their homes to learn more about the circumstances that brought them there and determine how SVDP can help. She can also connect them with additional community resources that may offer further support.

Illness, job loss, an unexpected expense, or another sudden setback can make it difficult for a household to keep up with basic necessities. In some cases, SVDP’s assistance can help prevent a utility disconnection or allow a family to remain in their home when facing eviction.

“I get to listen to their stories, pray with them, and sometimes even cry with them,” Juanita shared.

Making a Measurable Impact

Over the past year, Juanita’s local SVDP conference conducted 402 home visits and provided approximately $123,000 in utility assistance and $65,000 in rental assistance to neighbors in need. The organization also provided emergency food and personal hygiene bags to individuals who came to its office seeking help.

SVDP’s reach extends beyond financial assistance. Each year, volunteers from St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Vianney, and Church of the Incarnation parishes come together for an annual Thanksgiving food distribution serving families throughout the Rio Rancho community.

Last Thanksgiving, the effort provided food for 722 families, representing approximately 3,200 individuals. This November, volunteers will once again distribute frozen turkeys and pies, along with information connecting families to other local organizations that provide food assistance.

Compassion in Action

For Juanita, the impact of a home visit goes beyond the financial assistance SVDP may be able to provide. Each visit is an opportunity to meet someone where they are, hear their story, and offer both practical help and human connection during a difficult time.

Her service reflects the heart of the GAAR Good Neighbor Awards: REALTORS® and Affiliates giving their time and talents to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.

GAAR is proud to recognize Juanita Wilson as a 2025 Good Neighbor Award recipient and celebrate her dedication to supporting individuals and families throughout the Rio Rancho community.