As students across Lee County prepare to return to the classroom on Tuesday, August 11, FISH of SanCap is celebrating the start of a new school year while supporting island children, families, workers, and educators through a wide range of services.
Access to nutritious food, school supplies, clothing, transportation, and family stability all play a role in a student’s ability to learn and succeed. Throughout the year, FISH works with local families to help remove barriers that can affect academic success.
Just weeks before the first day of school, FISH hosted its annual Back-to-School distribution, providing more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to children from island resident and workforce families. Many students also received clothing, shoes, and information about additional FISH programs available throughout the school year.
FISH continued its back-to-school outreach by participating in Sanibel School’s Welcome Back event on Thursday, August 6. Staff and volunteers were on hand to connect with families, answer questions, and share information about the organization’s youth and family services. The event also provided an opportunity to welcome both new and returning teachers as they prepare for the year ahead. To help educators get their classrooms ready, FISH provided welcome gift to help offset classroom supply expenses and thank them for investing in the island’s students.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to begin the school year feeling prepared and confident,” said Maria Espinoza, Executive Director of FISH of SanCap. “Our goal is to support the entire family so students can focus on learning while parents have access to resources that help create stability at home. We are equally grateful for the teachers who invest so much in our children each day, and we are excited to welcome them back for another school year.”
Beyond the Back-to-School event, FISH offers year-round services that support students and their families, including:
- The FISH Food Pantry, providing healthy groceries and fresh food.
- The Youth Backpack Feeding Program, supplying children with nutritious weekend meals during the school year.
- Financial assistance for qualifying families experiencing temporary hardship.
- Adult education scholarships that strengthen family financial stability through workforce training, certifications, and higher education.
- Case management and resource navigation that connect families with local services and support.
The organization also expressed appreciation to the many donors, volunteers, businesses, and community partners who make these programs possible. Special recognition goes to youth program supporters including the American Red Cross, Captiva Chapel by the Sea, Lee County Bar Association, SanCap Kiwanis, Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club, and Suncoast Credit Union. Their continued investment helps ensure island children have the resources they need throughout the school year.
As another school year begins, FISH extends its best wishes to every student, teacher, school employee, and family for a successful and rewarding 2026 to 2027 school year.
Families interested in learning more about FISH services are encouraged to contact FISH at (239) 472-4775 or visit fishofsancap.org.
