provided to The Santiva Chronicle
For more than 15 years, a Sanibel senior embraced the independence of riding her bicycle everywhere — to the grocery store, library, and post office. Recently, balance issues and back pain turned her daily rides into scary moments.
But it was a fall across from the FISH Food Pantry, with groceries scattered across the sidewalk, that was the breaking point.
“I’ve always been independent, but lately I’m scared every time I get on my bike,” she said. She researched safer options and found a recumbent hand trike that would help with balance and ease her pain. But with her fixed income, buying it meant falling behind on rent.
That’s when FISH stepped in. Through the Helping Hands Rent Assistance program, funded by The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation, FISH covered two months of her rent, allowing her to redirect funds toward the trike without sacrificing her housing security.
“I’ve been told the benefits of a recumbent trike can help with balance and pain, but they’re so expensive,” she explained. “Because of FISH, I didn’t have to choose between my safety and my home.”
Nitza Lopez, FISH Social Services Director, said, “Stories like this remind us that even small changes in health or mobility can create big challenges for seniors. By covering rent, we not only helped her stay in her home, but also gave her the confidence to keep moving forward safely.”
While she awaits the arrival of her new trike, the senior is grateful for the peace of mind it brings. She can look ahead knowing she will remain both safe on the road and secure in her home.
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