by SC Feature Writer Reanna Haase
Sanibel residents have been seen proudly sporting Love Sanibel Back buttons since early June, symbolizing how far the community has come since the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian almost two years ago.
Led by St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Love Sanibel Back is a series of community gatherings to foster community solidarity and drive business to locally owned establishments. Starting on June 3, community members have gathered weekly to show love to the businesses that remain standing despite all odds.
“It has fulfilled its goal and went beyond what we ever imagined,” said Sue Van Oss, director of digital communications and Christian formation at St. Michael’s Church.
Van Oss said the success of this series has been overwhelming. An estimated 75% of attendees were from outside the St. Michael’s circle, and many continued their support throughout the ‘pop-ups.’
“You see people coming back with a button on their purse or their button on their shirt,” Van Oss said. “We’ve had some people say we’re kind of making it a challenge; we’re going to try to make every single [meet up].”
Due to its success, St. Michael’s added a second wave to the Love Sanibel Back dates, which are as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 12:
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Billy’s Rentals
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Home by Rachel Pierce
6 p.m. Island Pizza/Sweet Melissa’s pop up
Wednesday, Sept. 18:
6 p.m. tween Waters Shipyard and Captiva Crust restaurants, Pelican’s Roost/Marina & YOLO Water Sports
Saturday, Sept. 28:
Noon to 3 p.m. Love Sanibel Community Gathering at The Community House with music, food, booths and activities for all
The final community gathering will cap off the four-month-long LSB celebration of businesses in the Sanibel-Captiva community on the second anniversary of Hurricane Ian’s landfall. Van Oss said this will be a time to unite and uplift each other.
“No more storm videos. No more storm pictures. This is just a time to really recognize how much love has been spread over the past two years,” Van Oss said.
Throughout the summer, Love Sanibel Back has promoted connections among businesses; Van Oss said that although the Over Easy Cafe and Suncatchers’ Dream were highlighted in the first gathering on June 3, the owners have continued to advertise the other meet-up dates of neighboring businesses.
“We here on Sanibel and Captiva have a very unique community, and that is a truly special singular thing,” said Dan Billheimer, owner of Lighthouse Cafe. “I enjoy some friendly competition with some of the other breakfast places, but really, we’re all in it together.”
“Their success is our success,” said Billheimer.
Billheimer said the community growth after the storm, fostered by initiatives like this, has given him a new-found appreciation for his neighbors. Like many Sanibel residents, Billheimer said he lost everything when Hurricane Ian landed on the island.
“We lost a house. We lost two cars. We lost two storage units. We lost our business,” Billheimer said.
Since then, with the help of the Sanibel community, the Lighthouse Cafe has set up shop in a new location, 1020 Periwinkle Way, after over three decades of being owned and operated by the Billheimer family at the old location on 362 Periwinkle Way.
“It really became evident to me that, especially in a small island community like this one – nobody can really exist without the others,” Billheimer said.
This realization made him even more compelled to support his neighbors by participating in events like Love Sanibel Back—he even carries his LSB merchandise with him everywhere he goes.
“I cleaned my bag out yesterday and was like, ‘What am I gonna put back in here?” Billheimer shared. “And I was like, ‘You’re going to keep that pin in your bag for as long you can because you need to remember where you came from and who’s loving you and supporting you’.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was corrected on Sept. 12. The original story incorrectly stated the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church’s “Love Sanibel Back” initiative was in partnership with the City of Sanibel. Love Sanibel Back is an initiative by St. Michael’s church. The Santiva Chronicle apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.