The devastation on the East Coast from October’s Hurricane Sandy may be more than 1,400 miles away, but one local woman is determined to help relief efforts.

Rachel Hasbargen-Glowack is rounding up the area’s talented entertainers for a Hurricane Sandy singathon event at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Backus Community Center.

“I decided to organize (the singathon) after watching the Red Cross on TV with Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and others” she said. “After watching it, I thought to myself, ‘I can play and sing. I know lots of people who play and sing. We can do this here.’”

In late October, Hurricane Sandy caused extensive damage along the East Coast and on islands in the Caribbean. Sandy made landfall in southern New Jersey and brought with it major flooding, travel disruption, structural damage, and power outages. There were 24 states impacted by the “superstorm.”

Sandy’s wake leveled the landscape and rewrote record books as it left behind a trail of damage, destruction and grief. Wikipedia.com says preliminary estimates of losses that include business interruption surpass $65 billion, which would make Sandy the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane behind Hurricane Katrina. At least 253 people were killed along the path of the storm in seven countries.

Hasbargen-Glowack said if her life was uprooted by similar circumstances, she would want some to help her family. With that in mind, she contacted people she knew who were musical and asked for their help.

“Some were friends and some were acquaintances,” she told The Journal. “The most amazing part has been that anyone I asked to perform or help said yes. No one turned me down. The performers are excited to share their music and help those in need.”

The singathon will be a free will offering event and includes the following singers and bands: Pele Uboajah, Sloughgrass, Paper Palor, Gary Hooker, Dean Piekarski, Mark Gierszewski, Ginger Christianson, Madison Foss, Tessa Walls, Mike Perry, Monte Schaffer, The JR Girls, Scott Askey, Tom Sackery, and Kurt and John Sobcynski.

Hasbargen-Glowack said her goal is to fill every seat in the Backus Auditorium.

“(Backus) seats 1,000 people,” she said. “The amount to be raised could end up huge...Whatever is fundraised, I think we’ll be surprised by the generosity of this community.”

Donations given during the event will be turned over to the local Salvation Army, and the organization will send a check to the Hurricane Sandy victims.

“Feeling grateful for our loved ones, our homes and the environment we live in, local talent has come together to try and provide relief for those that have been affected the most by Hurricane Sandy,” said a flyer for the event. “Open your hearts, be kind and remember those that are in need this holiday season.”