Life was finally starting to feel ‘back to normal’ after Hurricane Milton for Lisa, a hardworking housekeeper at a local resort. After months of financial strain, she had recently started a new job and was catching up on bills when she and her husband both got sick with COVID, forcing them to miss a week of work—and a week’s worth of income. In an instant, they felt the progress they had made was slipping away. “It was like taking two steps forward and ten steps backwards,” says Lisa. The name of the individual in this story has been changed for privacy purposes.
“As most of us are these days, my husband and I were struggling. I had just started a new job a few months ago and was starting to get us caught up when we hit a wall,” Lisa shared. “My coworker told me about FISH and how they might be able to help, so I went in and met some wonderful people—one of which was Nitza Lopez, who helped me every step of the way.”
Through FISH’s Helping Hands emergency financial assistance program, Social Services Director Nitza Lopez worked with Lisa to assess her situation and find a solution. FISH was able to cover her rent for the next month, giving her and her husband some much-needed breathing room. Rent or mortgage assistance is available through funding from The Sanctuary Foundation, a partner and advocate for FISH.
“That one month of rent didn’t just help us—it got us more than caught up,” Lisa said. “I am beyond grateful. This is a great organization, and they help so many people in the community. If you work or live on the island and need help, this is the place to go. They’re wonderful, kind people who will go the extra mile for you.”
Lopez, who has helped countless island residents and workers through difficult times, knows that financial setbacks can happen to anyone. “A missed paycheck can be the difference between staying afloat and falling behind,” she said. “FISH is here to support our neighbors in times of crisis, whether it’s unexpected medical bills, loss of work hours, or any situation that makes it hard to meet basic needs. We want people to know they don’t have to struggle alone—we’re here to help.”
In 2024, FISH answered nearly 29,000 service requests for island neighbors including 5,823 instances of case management and 460 instances of financial assistance.
In addition to rent assistance, Lisa also began visiting the FISH Food Pantry to help stretch her grocery budget. “With the cost of everything rising, even a little help goes a long way,” she said.
FISH’s Helping Hands program provides emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, medical bills, and other essential needs to those who live or work on Sanibel and Captiva. Every case is handled with care, compassion, and confidentiality. Certain documentation is required and the amount of financial assistance available varies by case. For more information about Helping Hands, contact Nitza Lopez at FISH, 239-472-4775 or by email, nitza@fishofsancap.org.
