Website Aims to Keep Disaster Aid Local

New Port Richey resident Sherry Stamback has been trying to grow a local hub for people to turn to get or give help in the case of a weather-related natural disaster. 

Stamback is the administrator for West Pasco Recovers, an online database that seeks to connect folks looking for aid with those willing to donate it or volunteer their time locally. It's also touted as a way to prepare for disasters in advance.

Folks who have skills or equipment needed to deal with disasters can store their information on the site. So can people looking to volunteer their time and people needing aid.

Stamback wants to get more people involved in the site and has been looking for people to sign up to it.

In addition, hurricane season is upon us, and Stamback is “seeking a viable sponsor to hold our (financial) accounts beneath their non-profit status, which will give us the ability to keep all donations in our local neighborhoods, directly helping those who live here,” she writes on the website.

People can indicate on the site right now that they want to donate money, but until the site has a sponsor, all financial donations go to the American Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter.

West Pasco Recovers is part of a network of websites under the Recovers umbrella.

The founders of Recovers gave the site to Stamback for free (some communities must pay for theirs) last year after Tropical Storm Debby, which dumped a deluge of rain on the area that resulted in flooding above the 100-year flood level, home evacuations and one reported death in Pasco. 

Stamback had started a Facebook page where folks could share information about Debby’s impact and offer help, and she thought last year that Recovers was a logical extension of her efforts to connect the community with aid.

Stamback used Recovers last year to rally people to muck out a home and offered donations to people in need. They also filled sandbags in readiness for the possible arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac last year.

Recovers has grown to include 33 members, Stamback said. She has been promoting the site online and at community events.

“A lovely side-effect of the Westpasco.Recovers.org is that it also nourishes friendly interactions,” Stamback said.  “A community which helps itself in such ways enriches and empowers the greatest asset: people.”

Check out West Pasco Recovers at Westpasco.recovers.org. You can also find out more information on the West Pasco Recovers Facebook page.

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