When FISH of SanCap asked what community needs it should prioritize over the next 10 to 20 years, one answer stood above the rest. Food security was selected by 83.1% of respondents to the organization’s recent Resiliency Hub Community Survey, the highest response among all listed priorities.
The finding reinforces the central role food assistance continues to play in FISH’s work with island residents and members of the Sanibel and Captiva workforce.
“Food assistance has been part of FISH for decades, and the survey makes clear that the community sees it as an important part of the organization’s future,” said Maria Espinoza, FISH Executive Director. “That feedback matters as FISH considers how the Resiliency Hub can improve the way food is received, stored and distributed.”
The community offered specific suggestions. Respondents asked FISH to consider additional refrigeration and freezer capacity, efficient receiving and distribution areas, easier movement of food for staff and volunteers, nutrition programming and continued support for homebound residents. Several comments also raised the physical demands placed on volunteers who unload, move and stock food and encouraged FISH to consider those needs in the building’s design.
FISH currently operates a choice-model Food Pantry serving eligible Sanibel and Captiva residents and workforce households. The organization also provides its Youth Backpack Feeding Program for children attending grades K-12, and Meals-by-FISH for eligible homebound neighbors.
Food storage and distribution also become critical following disasters, when normal access to groceries, electricity and transportation may be disrupted. The planned Resiliency Hub will expand FISH’s capacity for food storage and distribution and include a warming kitchen space to support feeding programs and emergency response.
Hurricane Ian destroyed FISH’s former building in 2022. The Resiliency Hub is being planned with support through a federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) reimbursement grant. “FISH asked what the community believes will matter in the years ahead,” Espinoza said. “Food security came through clearly. That gives the organization important direction as planning continues.”
For more information about FISH services and its Resiliency Hub planning, contact Maria Espinoza, Executive Director, FISH at maria@fishofsancap.org or 239-472-4775.
