FISH of SANCAP Enhances Food Programs to Meet Rising Community Needs

For many families in Lee County, the rising cost of living has made access to nutritious food a daily struggle. Inflation, skyrocketing rents, and the aftermath of Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton have left countless families making impossible choices: feeding their children or paying rent, buying groceries or affording life-saving medications. In response, FISH of SANCAP has enhanced its food programs and extended its food pantry hours to support families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet.

“Food insecurity is a reality for far too many people in our community,” said Maria Espinoza, Executive Director of FISH. “We see families who are working hard but simply cannot stretch their income far enough to cover basic needs. Our food programs are here to ease that burden and ensure no one goes hungry.”

FISH offers a variety of food assistance programs designed to meet the diverse and urgent needs of the Sanibel, Captiva, and Lee County communities. Each program requires an intake and sign-up process to ensure resources are allocated where they are needed most.

Food Pantry: The most-used resource at FISH, the pantry provides supplemental groceries to individuals and families. FISH sees firsthand how rising food prices coupled with disaster expenses is affecting the community. With unexpected, unbudgeted remediation or repair costs, along with lost work hours and livelihoods, many continue to struggle from the hurricanes over the last 2.5 years.

The senior population is facing overwhelming challenges, with rising healthcare costs and skyrocketing prescription medication expenses straining their already limited resources. “It’s heartbreaking to see,” shares Espinoza. “Far too often, we come across empty refrigerators and bare cabinets in seniors’ homes because they’re forced to choose between buying life-saving medications or putting food on the table.”

The Food Pantry is a vital service for residents and the workforce and offers perishable products, fresh fruits and vegetables, shelf stable food, personal hygiene products and pet products. The updated pantry hours allow for greater accessibility:

• Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Meals by FISH: A hot meal delivery service ensures seniors, homebound individuals and others in need receive nutritious meals five days a week, with extra portions for the weekend. Meals are subsidized by FISH.

Fresh Meal Boxes: These boxes provide families with fresh ingredients and recipes, allowing them to cook healthy, home-prepared meals.

Children’s Backpack Program: This program provides children with access to nutritious food after school, on weekends, and during school breaks, ensuring they have the energy and focus needed to thrive. By bridging gaps in consistent nutrition, the program supports overall well-being and helps set children up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Holiday Meal Program: FISH offers families special holiday meal baskets during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays, complete with all the ingredients needed for a festive family gathering, bringing a sense of joy and normalcy to whatever challenges a family may be facing.

For Sarah Singleton, a single mother of three, FISH’s food programs have been a lifeline. “It’s heartbreaking not to be able to provide enough for my kids,” Sarah shared. “I work full-time, but between rent, utilities, and other bills, there’s just not enough left for food. The Food Pantry helps us keep going, and the Backpack Program makes sure my kids don’t go hungry on weekends or during school breaks.” To protect her privacy, Sarah’s name has been changed.

Sarah also expressed her gratitude for FISH’s Holiday Meal Program. “The holiday meals were such a blessing. They brought us together as a family and gave us something to look forward to. Asking for help isn’t easy—it’s depressing to know I can’t consistently feed my family on my own. But FISH has given us more than food; they’ve given us hope.”

In a September 2024 article published in the News-Press, ‘. . . last year alone, more than one in eight Southwest Floridians, including one in six children, experienced hunger that impacted their quality of life. And the heartbreaking reality is these numbers continue to rise…’ Additionally, according to the Health Planning Council of Southwest FL, 17% of children in Lee County are food insecure.

In Lee County, where many residents are still recovering from the financial impacts of recent hurricanes, FISH has seen an increased demand for their food programs.

“Our neighbors are struggling to make impossible choices every day,” Espinoza said. “With the support of our donors, volunteers, and partners, we’re working to ensure that no family has to choose between putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads.”

FISH encourages anyone in need of food assistance to contact their team for an intake assessment to determine the best resources for their situation. To learn more about FISH of SANCAP’s food programs or to support their mission, visit fishofsancap.org or contact the organization at (239) 472-4775 or info@fishofsancap.org.