Local Relief seeks financial relief

Even doing the right thing can have a cost attached.

Just ask Lakewood Ranch's Heather Hackett, a self-proclaimed "Mama Bear" whose Local Relief, Inc., became a reality because of her vision and hard work.

For those who aren't familiar with Local Relief, it is nonprofit formed by Hackett to help those recovering from a natural disaster find the funds and supplies to return to their normal lifestyle.

As Hackett puts it, that road to recovery can be overwhelming. Just trying to find gas, or ice, or food can be a challenge in the short-term, while longer-term struggles can include tree damage, the loss of transportation, or a roof that no longer functions. She hoped to provide a single app that would offer the guidance needed all in one place.

Her project was so well received that Hackett, the founder and executive director of Local Relief, Inc., was named the 2024 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian of the year by the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.

Things were good and Hackett saw the nonprofit growing from a one-woman operation, to one manned by a team of four employees, including Hackett. When the area was being hit by three hurricanes in 2024, she was the talk of the town.

But we — I am talking about most people — are a resilient bunch. We tend to walk away from disasters and put them in the rear-view mirror as quickly as possible. Local Relief was still getting the hits as the year turned to 2025, but mostly from those who needed help because their lives had been devastated in 2024.

Overall, though, the interest she was getting from those not affected by the hurricane had waned. Those who had talked to her about supporting the nonprofit had moved toward other causes.

"I thought I was going to become a Clara Barton of the Red Cross," Hackett said. "But disasters are difficult because people don't get engaged until a disaster is knocking on the door. You can't tell people ahead of time to download this app. People don't pay attention to hurricanes until they have a named storm."

June, July and August have passed without even a tropical storm making landfall in Florida. That's great news for those of us who hate putting up hurricane shutters. But that wave of momentum Hackett was riding has dissipated.

The Clara Barton in her leaves her praying that we never get pummeled by another hurricane. Meanwhile, the businesswoman in her has been scrambling to find a route to survival.

"I need the money to get hits and the hits to get money," she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"I knew my app costs," she said. "But I thought, financially, I would be further along."

Photo by Jay Heater

She remains confident that "a big company, a disaster company, a generator company or a person with deep pockets," will come forward to support the nonprofit.

"I thought someone would want to get their name on this, in making sure people don't go through it alone," she said.

In filling what she thought was a void in disaster support, Hackett thought she would get more government aid as well, but she said she didn't expect the abundance of red tape she has faced.

"We need kickstart money," she said. "We need to make that first official push. Once we get the numbers, we can find sponsors."

Part of making a first official push is asking to donations. Hackett said she hates the thought of asking anyone for money, but added that she can ask for $1.

So on her site at LocalRelief.com, she has a page where she is holding up one finger. She is asking for a buck.

Her thought process for the buck has to do with her app's ability to be valued across the country. She just traveled to Texas to make a push there. 

"I am led with passion," she said. "My goal always has been to do something I love, but I realize now that in order to do it I am going to have to raise money. People love grass roots and Local Relief is the epitome of grass roots. This is where people can get assistance from other organizations and from their neighbors. I am not competition for (other disaster recovery sites). We will take their resources and showcase them. I want to funnel people to where they need to go."

Her hope remains that Local Relief becomes a disaster resource throughout the U.S., but she also understands that growth has to go through stages and success often begins in one region before expanding.

"I know we will get there," she said. "This was put on me for some reason. I know it will happen ... I just don't know how."