F.I.S.H.’s 24th annual Back to School Basket Brigade for kids a huge success
A special heartfelt thank you to everyone for participating in the 2024/2025 F.I.S.H. (Fellow Islanders Spending Help) Back to School Basket Brigade Fair. This program provides clothing and gift cards to buy gym shoes for students whose families anticipate having difficulty in providing new items for the upcoming school year. A total of 154 children were registered for the program this year.
F.I.S.H. continued last year’s format inside Wesley Hall at United Methodist Church along with the first Block Party outside. In addition to receiving their clothing and gift cards for new shoes, each child received new toothbrushes from the Greater Pine Island Food Pantry and information on drug awareness from the Greater Pine Island Elks Club.
Darcy Conner, F.I.S.H. Basket Brigade chair, said she would like to thank the many islanders and corporate sponsors who donated and adopted children in this year’s program. Due to the school schedule starting early, she said they reached out to the community directly to help with sponsoring the kids and Pine Island did not disappoint. All of the kids were adopted out, shopped for and the items returned!
This year continues the trend of islanders also moving away and new families moving to the island. The group wants to continue to make sure island children start their school off right with new clothes, underwear and shoes.
Conner further stated, “It’s only with the continued generosity of our islanders that we can continue to implement this program, year after year, as a collaborated effort with many of the nonprofits of the island. With everyone excited to participate during the Holiday Basket Brigade, we see many opportunities to offer additional resources to our islanders moving forward.”
Pine Island F.I.S.H. is a 501(c (3) nonprofit and all-volunteer association of neighbors organized to help those living in the Matlacha and Pine Island communities. Pine Island F.I.S.H. offers the following services: non-emergency transportation to medical facilities, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, etc. to those with no access to transportation; mobility equipment lending: wheelchairs, walkers, etc.; assistance with special needs: emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, medical costs, etc.; respite resource information; and is the lead agency in the Pine Island “Basket Brigade” programs. There is no charge for F.I.S.H. services, however, equipment and monetary donations are welcome.
For more information about the organization, or if you would like to donate or volunteer, visit the website at www.pineislandfish.org.