Summer of giving
Summer in Southwest Florida has lots going for it for those of us who embrace the sunshine or love nothing better than the sound of a late-afternoon thunder-boomer.
Less crowded beaches.
Shorter lines, if any, at our favorite spots to grab a bite or sit and linger.
More time for, well, most anything that makes this a great place to live.
For some of us, though, particularly those involved with any of the area’s many non-profits or social services organizations, there is no summer break.
A pair of press releases recently received by our newsroom illustrated this well.
F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva has already launched its annual Back-to-School Supplies Drive.
From now through July 25, the community can drop off supplies between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Walk-In Center. Items like paper, glue sticks, pens, pencils, rulers and notebooks are requested.
F.I.S.H. is also accepting new socks and underwear for boys and girls in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as cash donations to ensure enough supplies are available on distribution day.
Last year’s drive assisted over 130 students, and F.I.S.H. expects an increase in requests this year.
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Inc. also has kicked off its annual Back to School Supply Drive. Providing educators with free school supplies, it will continue through July 23.
Supplies on the collection list include notebook paper, pens, No. 2 pencils, crayons, glue sticks, rulers, notebooks, three-ring binders, scissors and backpacks.
Those looking to donate these or other items may do so at the foundation’s Amazon Wish List at www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NBTYD1CL474M/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex, or by dropping them at one of the numerous drop-off locations throughout Lee County. On-island locations include Bank of the Islands and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.
Meanwhile, Priority Marketing submitted a release on behalf on some of the numerous organizations looking for volunteers.
Among them: Community Cooperative, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Pace Center for Girls Lee County, Guardian ad Litem Foundation, 20th Judicial Circuit and Better Together.
A full list, with web links, may be found at prioritymarketing.com/southwest-florida-nonprofits-need-summer-volunteers/.
On island, volunteer opportunities can be found with organizations like the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, BIG ARTS, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, F.I.S.H., Nature Store at J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Sanibel Community House and more.
And let’s not forget the food banks.
As of June 27, “reemployment assistance” claimants in Florida no longer receive the $300 weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation supplement. It ends nationwide on Sept. 6.
The good news?
There are jobs out there — more than 450,000 posted online throughout the state, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s latest numbers. Here in Southwest Florida, employers are begging for workers with “help wanted” signs in abundance.
The bad news?
It’s summer in Florida where, in theory anyway, off-season is harder for those in service-industry jobs. Meanwhile, food insecurity is a problem year round.
F.I.S.H. offers nutritious supplemental groceries at its Walk-in Center five days a week, which allows clients to shop according to their schedule so they can get the resources they need. In 2020, it distributed 246,545 pounds of food through 6,407 visitors to the food pantry, and 977 families were served equating to 205,454 meals.
For information on donating, visit www.fishofsancap.org/food-pantry.
In addition, its Meals-by-FISH program ensures all islanders, regardless of mobility constraints, have access to at least one hot meal per day, and fresh meals seven days a week. In 2020, volunteers delivered 6,412 meals.
F.I.S.H. also operates a backpack program that provides children with nutritious foods and snacks to sustain them over the weekends and school breaks, as well as a food basket program for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In 2020, 517 holiday baskets — with all the fixings — were distributed.
Meanwhile, the Harry Chapin Food Bank provides food monthly to nearly 152,000 Southwest Floridans — 32 percent of them children, 19 percent of them seniors. It is always in need of donations, both cash and non-perishables. Last month alone, it distributed 4.6 million tons of food in the five-county area served.
For information on donating, visit harrychapinfoodbank.org.
Together, we can help make the Summer of 2021, if not the best one, a better one, for all of us.
— Reporter editorial