During the month of April NAMI of Pasco (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will be the featured charitable organization of the month at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office. NAMI of Pasco is an all-volunteer chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI’s goal is to help those with mental illness live better lives through education, support, advocacy and increasing awareness of the myths and facts surrounding mental illness.
“Feeling alone, not knowing where to turn when my brother was in crisis, I discovered NAMI’s free, 12-week Family to Family Education class,” states NAMI of Pasco Vice-President Gloria Strother. “I was given a notebook filled with hundreds of pages of valuable information and was taught in a setting with others who understood my challenges.”
It is estimated that depression is more common than AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. There are many other mental illnesses that impact the lives of people both near and far away. NAMI of Pasco is here to help not only the individual who has the illness, but also family, friends and caregivers who also are impacted by mental illness.
“NAMI of Pasco has long been a friend of ours,” states Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “I’m pleased that our agency has the opportunity to shine the spotlight on the good work Dr. Doug Webster, President, Gloria Strother, Vice President and all the volunteers at NAMI do for individuals with a mental illness as well as the family and friends who care for them. Mental illness touches more lives than most of us realize. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping ensure that these needed services continue and that NAMI can grow to meet the ever changing needs of our community to stop by one of our offices and make a donation.”
Funds raised during the month of April will stay in our community and will be used to offer free classes, including materials, and support groups; as well as, maintaining a website, brochures and manuals, a small administrative office, and on-going training for new volunteer teachers and facilitators to conduct NAMI programs.
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office supports local charitable organizations that assist residents of Pasco County. For more information about the charitable giving programs and other services at the Pasco Tax Collector’s Office please visit www.pascotaxes.com or call Greg Giordano, Assistant Tax Collector at 727-847-8179. For more information regarding NAMI of Pasco in particular please visit the website www.namipasco.org or contact NAMI of Pasco at 727 -203-6595.