provided to The Santiva Chronicle
FISH of SanCap is planning a new Resiliency Hub on Sanibel, designed by Schenkel & Shultz, Inc. The new facility will replace hurricane-damaged buildings and provide space for senior services, a food pantry, and a community resource center.
Supported by nearly $7 million in disaster recovery grants, this project aims to ensure critical resources and disaster response services remain available for the Sanibel and Captiva community.
FISH is the only comprehensive social services provider for Sanibel and Captiva, offering food assistance, senior support, financial aid, and disaster services.
The new hub will offer dedicated spaces for food distribution, senior services, volunteer coordination, and emergency response, with input from the local community shaping the final design.
Originally, the project focused on repairing the facilities damaged by Hurricane Ian. However, after careful review, FISH and the architectural/engineering team determined that demolishing the existing buildings located at 2430 and 2422 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, and constructing one new facility would be a better use of funding than repairing and updating older structures. Building new will allow FISH to make the most of the reimbursable grant funding while creating a facility designed to support the changing needs of the community for many years to come.
“The question became, ‘How do we build what our community will need moving forward?'” said Maggi Feiner, President and CEO of FISH. “We have an opportunity to create a facility that strengthens our ability to serve neighbors every day while ensuring we are prepared to respond when emergencies occur.”
The future facility is being designed to support FISH’s core programs while providing dedicated space for food programs, senior services, volunteer coordination, case management, education, and community support. Preliminary concepts include an expanded food pantry with enhanced refrigeration and storage capacity, dedicated senior services space, volunteer and case management areas, meeting and educational space, and an area capable of supporting emergency feeding operations.
As a designated United Way Resiliency Hub, FISH serves as a central point for resources, information, partnerships, and assistance that support the community throughout the year. During disasters and other emergencies, that role becomes even more important. The new facility is being designed to support that responsibility by ensuring critical services remain available while providing space that can adapt before, during, and after a crisis.
“Every conversation has reinforced the same message: our community needs strong, reliable infrastructure that can adapt as needs change,” said Maria Espinoza, Executive Director of FISH. “That conversation continues as we continue with the design phase. We want to hear from the people who use our services, our partners, and our neighbors. Their feedback will help shape a facility that supports food security, senior services, disaster preparedness, and community needs for many years to come.”
Schenkel & Shultz was chosen for its experience with community projects and disaster recovery. FISH will host stakeholder meetings in August and share updates on its website and social media.
“We are honored to partner with FISH of SanCap to design their future home and support their mission,” said Nathalie White, AIA, Principal and leader of Schenkel & Shultz’s Southwest Florida office. “Our goal is to create a welcoming facility that supports both daily operations and emergency response while serving the community for years to come.”
The FISH Building Committee guiding the project includes Bill Hayles, committee chair; Sheridan Snell; Maggi Feiner; Maria Espinoza; Ashley Price; Evan DuPont; Jim Metzler; and Susan Ryckman, with technical advisory support from Mona Afifi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Stock Development Program.
As this exciting work moves forward, FISH will share project updates through its website, newsletter, and social media channels. Stakeholder meetings are planned for early August, giving residents, partners, volunteers, and community leaders an opportunity to learn more and help shape the future facility.
Anyone with questions, concerns, or who would like to discuss the project directly with Executive Director Maria Espinoza is encouraged to contact Executive Assistant Kim Baker at kim@fishofsancap.org or (239) 472- 4775 to arrange a conversation during early August.
More information about FISH programs and services is available at fishofsancap.org.