September 28 carries two meanings for FISH of SanCap. It is National Good Neighbor Day, a day that celebrates the ways neighbors help one another. It also marks four years since Hurricane Ian made landfall and changed Sanibel and Captiva.
The two dates are closely connected for FISH. Hurricane Ian tested the islands in ways no one could have imagined and showed the strength of a community where neighbors were already accustomed to looking out for one another. That spirit was present long before the storm, carried the islands through the difficult days that followed, and continues to shape recovery and preparedness today.
Neighbors checked on one another, shared food and supplies, helped clean homes, moved debris, offered rides and more. Volunteers, donors, businesses, churches, first responders, community organizations and government partners worked together to help people return, recover and rebuild.
“National Good Neighbor Day has always fit naturally with who FISH is, and September 28 now carries a deeper significance for our islands,” said Maria Espinoza, FISH Executive Director. “Four years after Ian, FISH continues to see neighbors helping neighbors every day. We saw it before the storm, throughout the response and recovery, and we see it today as our community prepares for the future.”
In the immediate aftermath of Ian, FISH adapted its services to meet changing needs across Sanibel and Captiva. The organization distributed food, water, emergency meals and essential supplies and connected neighbors with financial assistance, recovery resources, FEMA and other agencies, counseling and case management. Staff and volunteers worked with community partners to assist residents and workers facing damaged homes, lost income, displacement and other effects of the storm.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought new challenges in 2024 to households, businesses and workers still recovering from Ian. FISH again responded with food, supplies, emergency assistance, information and connections to available resources.
Today, FISH provides year-round services through four areas: Food Programs, Island-Based Education, Senior Services and Helping Hands financial assistance. Its Food Pantry serves island residents and members of the workforce. Helping Hands assists qualified households facing financial emergencies. Senior Services help older neighbors remain connected and supported. Educational and preparedness programs provide information and resources community members can use throughout the year.
Preparedness has become an increasingly important part of the organization’s work. United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades designated FISH as a Resiliency Hub, recognizing its role as a trusted community location where people can access information, resources and support.
FISH is also planning the rebuilding of its Resiliency Hub, partially supported through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) reimbursement grant funding. The project will strengthen the services the community depends on today and prepare for future needs. Hurricane Ian destroyed the organization’s former building, requiring FISH to adapt its operations while continuing to serve the islands. The planned facility will expand program capacity, improve food storage and distribution, provide space for seniors and community partners, and strengthen FISH’s ability to support the community during emergencies.
“The last four years have reinforced how important it is for a community to have strong relationships already in place before something happens,” Espinoza said. “Every service, distribution and recovery effort involves people and organizations willing to help their neighbors. That spirit is part of everyday life on Sanibel and Captiva.”
A volunteer delivering a meal to an older adult, a donor helping stock the Food Pantry, an employer sharing FISH resources with workers, a neighbor checking on someone who lives alone or a community partner sharing resources all reflect the spirit National Good Neighbor Day celebrates.
On September 28, FISH remembers what Sanibel and Captiva lost during Hurricane Ian, recognizes how far the islands have come and honors the neighbors who helped one another through the storm and continue to show up for their community.
For FISH, the day reflects the idea that has guided the organization for nearly 45 years: Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
For more information about FISH services, contact FISH at info@fishofsancap.org or 239-472-4775.
