Hurricane Relief for Gina Bannan Stapleton

Co-organized

Erika Singer Burke and Patrick Wilkins are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of William Stapleton.

Donation protected

Hi, I am Erika Burke, Assistant to Patrick Wilkins and Realtor at RE/MAX Affinity Plus, Marco Island, FL. My colleague is Gina Bannan Stapleton, Director of Operations and Education for RE/MAX Anchor FL Realty LLC in SWFL. Gina is a marketing Guru who selflessly gives her time and expertise to the Agents and Admins at:

RE/MAX Affinity Plus (3 Offices - Collier, Bald Eagle and Naples)
RE/MAX Anchor (4 Offices - Punta Gorda, Marina Park, North Port and Port Charlotte)

On behalf of the owner, Rocky Farhat, Gina gives us her expertise every day and in her off-time, with outstanding knowledge and professionalism and an upbeat personality focusing on the positive and finding solutions while wearing many hats.

Due to Hurricane Ian, she has suffered severe damage to her personal home and agricultural property where she runs "Equines for Life", and cares for her horses, cows, a bull and sheep. One of her horses has been severely (gashed), injured, and they are organizing a vet to reach them. Right now - the road to her home in Englewood, FL, is flooded and blocked - so we cannot get "to her".

Her home was flooded. Gina has been able to sweep the water out of the house, and insurance will cover much of the damage to her furniture, appliances and interior - her floors were tiled, which helped.

In an emergency call, a tree expert reported that 3 huge trees above the home are split and must come down ASAP or they will fall on the house (and that will not be covered by insurance).
The rest of the trees that came down on the property destroyed all fencing.
They have a well, but the pump is broken and could possibly be repaired or replaced - they do not know if the well remained stable. The ETA for electric service is not available so the pump cannot be evaluated, so there is no water.
An electrical pole has also fallen and must be restored.
She had to cut her truck out of her house with a chainsaw.

In true Gina fashion, she has been rescuing other animals (Petunia, the pot-bellied pig), and helping others who have lost everything.

They have been subsisting on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. #TRUTH

Her separate agricultural property, run under "Equines for Life," where she maintains her animals, was flooded and destroyed by wind.
1 barn was destroyed.
2nd barn was severely damaged.
Almost all fencing was destroyed.
Reserve hay and feed are unusable.

She has no electricity, no water and the sewers are not fully functioning, having only 1 of 6 lift stations in the area working. She has no internet and little or no cell service.

Her main need at this time includes funding to manage repairs and re-building.

The 3 trees removal are $6k. Fees for the pump and well, electrical pole & electric repair, re-building of fences, re-building of horse property barns or at least a lean-to to provide shade for the horses and animals; is crucial, and those costs have not been ascertained yet. As you can imagine, it will be costly.

Gina is unable to meet the financial demands of these out-of-pocket repairs to stabilize her home, property and animals. We are organizing a possible visit to her this weekend to bring supplies per her direction. I have organized this fundraiser on her behalf, and all funds will go directly to Gina for her use toward the repairs, remediation and purchase of supplies.

Our success as RE/MAX agents is mainly due to the ongoing education, personal assistance and promotion of our business and personal brands through Gina. I know we can pull together and give. We are beginning with a goal of $5,000, which will get the remediation started. The ultimate goal of $20,000 would make a favorable contribution to managing the devastation that must be overwhelming her and her family.

Please contribute. Dig deep. All funds will go directly to Gina immediately in a daily disbursement.

For the time being, please hold off on reaching out to Gina directly. She is unable to respond, and I know she will want to speak to each of you to Thank you for your generosity.

Please check back here for updates.

Please see the photos below of the damage caused by Ian.

Thank you:)