The March Friendly Faces Luncheon hosted by FISH of SanCap welcomed its largest gathering to date, with 125 guests filling the Sanibel Community House for a morning of connection, conversation, and learning.
Held on the second Tuesday of every month beginning at 11:00 a.m., the Friendly Faces Luncheon has become a welcoming gathering for island neighbors. Guests enjoy lunch together, hear from engaging guest speakers, and spend time getting to know others in the community.
The next Friendly Faces Luncheon will take place on April 14th, 11:00 a.m. at the Sanibel Community House and will feature guest speakers from Community Housing & Resources (CHR), who will present “Who is Community Housing (affordable housing) and why should it matter to the older adults of our community.” Speakers will include Becky Boyd, Deputy Director of CHR, and Anna Johnson, Executive Administrative Assistant.
Boyd helps lead organizational development, strategic initiatives, and funding efforts that support affordable workforce housing and long-term community stability on Sanibel. Johnson, a Sanibel native, supports CHR leadership and board operations while assisting with housing initiatives and community programs that help strengthen the island community.
Friendly Faces helps address isolation among seniors while offering a space where people can gather and spend time together. While many attendees are older adults, the luncheon is open to anyone in the community who enjoys good conversation and learning something new.
“Programs like Friendly Faces remind us how important it is to simply spend time together,” said Erika Arnowitz of FISH Senior Services. “Many neighbors live alone or have family and friends off island. Having a place where people can come together for conversation, a meal, and learning makes a real difference.”
For some guests, the experience has been a pleasant surprise. “I attended my first Friendly Faces Luncheon because a friend was speaking,” shared attendee Jo Smith. “I quickly learned that it’s a way to get the community together and provide social interaction for everyone. I had an enjoyable time, met some nice residents and will most likely come back. Thank you FISH for doing this.”
Another guest, Rachel, a senior who lives on the island on a fixed income, described the gathering as something she had been hoping for. “Thank you for inviting me to the Friendly Faces Luncheon,” she said. “I had such a wonderful time. I don’t do any socializing as my friends all still work full-time in Fort Myers, and I have no ‘fun money’ to spend. This Friendly Faces Luncheon was an answer to my prayers. I got to socialize with some wonderful fellow seniors, enjoyed the delicious lunch, the give-away prizes, and the informative presentation. Everyone was so friendly. Please count me in for more of these Friendly Faces Luncheons. It meets so many of our needs—friends, togetherness, great food, and new learning experiences. All good stuff. Thanks so much to FISH for thinking of us.”
FISH encourages anyone looking for connection, conversation, or simply a friendly place to spend a late morning to attend a future luncheon. The Friendly Faces Luncheon takes place the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. at the Sanibel Community House. RSVPs are required and can be made here; for additional information, contact Erika Arnowitz, Senior Services Director at 239-472-4775 or erika@fishofsancap.org.
