Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) - Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Florida

Our heart goes out to you and our community as we complete final preparations for Hurricane Milton today. We witnessed firsthand how catastrophic this type of storm can be for SWFL two years ago. These moments certainly make you grateful to live in a community like ours, which cares for one another and lends a helping hand. We are confident our community will respond again if circumstances warrant it. #SWFLStrong #SanibelStrong #CaptivaStrong https://lnkd.in/e89WJj5K

We spent the day on Sanibel volunteering to clean up people’s homes today including Rotary, CROW, CHR, Ding Darling, FISH, and others. Thank you to the Community House for hosting the volunteer coordination site as well as lunch provided by St. Michael’s. Many houses can still not be accessed due to flooding which means we will continue to have great need for volunteers for the foreseeable future. F.I.S.H. Of SanCap will host volunteers tomorrow and the rest of the week. Volunteers can meet at FISH and deploy out for jobs at 8am. FISH is located at 2422 Periwinke Way.

An incredible organization on our Islands! A gift to FISH is a direct gift which will be out to immediate use for the benefit of those who live and work on the islands.

Hello friends - our hearts go out to our neighbors in north Florida today as they face catastrophic destruction from Hurricane Helene. Helene brought significant damage to SWFL especially to our coastal communities. Volunteers are gathering 8am tomorrow to help residents and business owners in the clean-up. Please join us at the Sanibel Community House.

And thanks to Collaboratory Dr. Dawn Belamarich and her fabulous team Lisa Freitas and Jessica Turner for meeting Dr. Doerfel as well as City of Sanibel and Captiva Community Panel representatives Eric Jackson included. Very excited to see the future developments in our collaborations!

Relationships are at the heart of what we do. Sanibel and Captiva nonprofits gathered today for a 1/2 day seminar to reflect on our inter-organizational relationships and the different types of networks we need for improved resiliency and collaboration. Chair and Professor of the Rutgers University School of Communication Dr Marya L. Doerfel led us through an analysis of our social capital and provided each of us with the tools to begin to evaluate how we can improve the way in which we collaborate. Thank you to Dana Souza who provided our opening reflection on what he has learned about relationships and collaboration since Hurricane Ian. Ding Darling Wildlife Society were gracious hosts! The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum BIG ARTS (Barrier Island Group for the Arts) Community Housing and Resources CROW - Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. CAPTIVA CIVIC ASSOCIATION INC Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce Sanibel Community Association @Trailways Camp, FISH OF SANCAP Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Sanibel school Fund, Children’s Education Center of the Islands, THE SANIBEL HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND VILLAGE INC

As the second anniversary of Hurricane Ian inches closer, read about how the Sanibel Causeway is coming back stronger and more resilient than ever. https://lnkd.in/eWvCvPUD

One of the silver linings from Hurricane Ian is our Island nonprofits meet monthly to collaborate, brainstorm and learn together. Congress Jewelers Melissa Congress shares the back story of how it all started. https://lnkd.in/eQrAvHJ7

Thank you Melissa Halliburton for this testimonial on how CFI’s Leadership Program inspired you to give back. During the Sanibel-Captiva Leadership program this year, I learned that F.I.S.H. of SanCap distributes 10,000 lbs of dog food to residents of Sanibel each year! Want to help them cover that need? Stop by Pierce’s Paw Paradise (in the Jerry’s plaza) to make a donation to the pet pantry and you’ll get a free “pawtographed” copy of my book, Ruff Guide to the United States. Bailey’s General Store is providing us with dog food at cost, so just a $20 donation will feed a dog in need for an entire month! Not on the island? You can also purchase the book at the link below and the entire amount will be donated back to help feed dogs on the island. https://lnkd.in/epBgX9-Z

Thank you Florida Weekly for featuring this incredibly generous donation which will promote positive aging for our community. https://lnkd.in/eRcWAKhW