This year's event, designed as a Back-to-School Fair, featured many additional items and services to get our island children ready for a successful new school year. The expanded program was the result of the Pine Island FISH Board asking, ‘what else’ can we do to help prepare our children for school, in addition to clothing and shoes.
We are incredibly grateful to the many volunteers who put in long hours coordinating and staffing the event, the islanders and corporate sponsors who helped us meet the need of a 30% increase in clothing and shoe requests, and the participation of the many service organizations that gave of their time and resources to support this new event.
The Florida Dept. of Health offered free immunizations and hearing and vision checks, Riverside Dental and Florida KidCare offered dental kits, the Blue Zone Project of SW Florida offered free bicycle helmets, the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Department gave out school supplies and offered free vitals checks, and the Pine Island Library offered free books and library card sign-up.
Pine Island FISH is an all-volunteer association of neighbors organized to help those living in the Matlacha and Pine Island Communities. From its early beginnings in the 1980s, Pine Island FISH has grown to an organization of more than 75 members providing many valuable services.
Pine Island FISH provides non-emergency transportation, lends mobility equipment to those in need, offers emergency financial assistance, and provides information and a list of local respite care providers for family caregivers. If you need help, call the FISH line at 239-283-4442 to connect with a volunteer who is ready to help .
Pine Island FISH is in need of volunteer drivers, both on and off-island, telephone volunteers, and more. If you are interested in becoming a FISH volunteer, call 239-283-4442 or attend one of our meetings held on the first Thursday of each month at 3:00 pm at the Pine Island United Methodist Church .
There is never a charge for any Pine Island FISH services. FISH is funded solely by donations. Your contribution helps ensure that FISH can continue offering important help. Fish is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization.
And remember, if you shop at Amazon Smile, Amazon will make a donation to Pine Island FISH.
In light of the difficulties presented in the last two years, Pine Island FISH is particularly grateful for the outpouring of support from our donors, volunteers and Valued Partners. In addition to donations throughout the year, our community really stepped up to support the Clothing for Kids and Christmas Brigades in 2021.
With the support of so many we were able to shift many of our processes online and use safety protocols to loan over 400 pieces of mobility equipment and offer over $25,000 in financial support to those in need. We also were able to help over 150 of our island children get their school year off to a good start with new clothes and shoes and brighten Christmas for over 270 children and their families with toys, stocking stuffers, and holiday meals. We regretted having had to curtail our transportation services for some time during the pandemic, but even so, we were able to transport over 120 clients to needed medical, dental, financial and related appointments, as well as provide pick up and delivery from the food pantry.
We were fortunate to continue our partnerships over the year with the Matlacha Hookers, Beacon of Hope, Pine Island Food Pantry, several churches, and the Pine Island Elementary School to ensure support to all island residents in need.
Pine Island FISH is entering its 36th successful year and continues its endeavors for those in need in the greater Pine Island areas - all made possible by such generosity.
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