A transformative era of community support and storm resilience is taking shape on Sanibel Island. F.I.S.H. of SanCap—the sole comprehensive human services agency serving Sanibel and Captiva—has officially announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art Resiliency Hub on Periwinkle Way.
Designed in partnership with leading architecture firm Schenkel & Shultz, Inc., the new complex will replace the organization’s aging, storm-damaged structures. Funded by nearly $7 million in disaster recovery grants, the facility will ensure that vital social services, food assistance programs, senior support, and disaster response operations remain uninterrupted for generations to come.
At the LeAneSuarezGroup, we deeply appreciate the indispensable role FISH plays in maintaining the social safety net across our islands. Investing in storm-resilient, community-focused infrastructure strengthens our entire island ecosystem, making Sanibel and Captiva even safer, more connected places to live, work, and retire.
Strategic Pivot: Demolition and Ground-Up Construction
Initially, leadership considered repairing and retrofitting the hurricane-damaged buildings at 2430 and 2422 Periwinkle Way. However, after comprehensive engineering reviews, FISH leadership and their architectural team determined that demolishing the legacy structures and constructing a purpose-built facility from the ground up offered a far superior long-term strategy.
PROJECT STRATEGY COMPARISON
[ LEGACY REPAIR ] ──► High costs, space constraints, outdated structural footprints.
[ NEW BUILD HUB ] ──► Maximizes grant funding, custom-built for modern disaster response.
[ LONG-TERM VISION ] ──► Scalable space designed for multi-generational island needs.
“The question became, ‘How do we build what our community will need moving forward?’ 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.” — Maggi Feiner, President and CEO of FISH
Inside the Facility: Daily Services & Emergency Readiness
As a designated United Way Resiliency Hub, the facility will operate as an adaptable central node before, during, and after major crises. Preliminary design concepts include:
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Expanded Food Pantry: Significantly enhanced cold-storage and refrigeration capacity to support daily food security and post-storm emergency feeding operations.
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Dedicated Senior Services Zone: Tailored, accessible spaces for elder care programs, case management, and wellness activities.
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Volunteer & Operations Hub: Centralized work areas for volunteer coordination, case management, and community education workshops.
Design Leadership & Community Input
To guide the design and execution phases, FISH appointed a specialized Building Committee chaired by Bill Hayles, alongside committee members Sheridan Snell, Maggi Feiner, Maria Espinoza, Ashley Price, Evan DuPont, Jim Metzler, and Susan Ryckman. Technical advisory support is provided by Mona Afifi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Community input remains central to the design phase. Stakeholder workshops are scheduled for early August, providing residents, volunteers, and local partners an opportunity to help shape the layout.
“Every conversation has reinforced the same message: our community needs strong, reliable infrastructure that can adapt as needs change… We want to hear from the people who use our services, our partners, and our neighbors.” — Maria Espinoza, Executive Director of FISH
How to Get Involved & Share Your Feedback
Residents and community leaders are encouraged to participate in the upcoming August stakeholder discussions. To speak directly with Executive Director Maria Espinoza or share your ideas, contact Executive Assistant Kim Baker at kim@fishofsancap.org or (239) 472-4775.
To track project progress, review daily social service schedules, or support the capital campaign, visit the official FISH of SanCap Portal.
