Pine Island Eagle

Free meals

GPICA meeting focuses on Hurricane Ian resources

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Kevin Guthrie attended the Greater Pine Island Civic Association meeting last Tuesday night to provide the islanders with more information post Hurricane Ian

“I will be here in Fort Myers the rest of the week and in and out over the next two to three years,” he said “What you guys are doing from a volunteer standpoint is fantastic Let me thank you Next week someone from the State of Florida will be here ”

He assured residents that there will be someone, a single point of contact, on the island to help vet and verify information, so everyone has correct resource information

Guthrie also spoke about www IanRecovery fl gov

“If you are not in our system, I can't get you help We want to help you get the necessary help you need,” he said.

The website includes two “buckets,” one that focuses on housing, and the other unmet needs

He said the department was able to get the first person into housing on Pine Island Tuesday

“That is a direct result of someone going into IanRecovery Fl gov,” Guthrie said

The website will ask for such information as the individual's name, address, phone number and FEMA registration number. With that information, individuals will

have the opportunity to qualify for the state's six month travel trailer program

“It is not a permanent travel trailer That trailer is owned by the state of Florida. In six months I am going to come back and hook that trailer up and take it away For people that are living in tents and deplorable conditions, six months in a travel trailer is better We are going to put travel trailers in flood plains It is a temporary solution,” Guthrie said, as a waiver has been put into place, as the law prohibits this from happening

The second bucket, unmet needs, Guthrie said, provides qualified 501c3 organizations with the ability for them to pass money to the organizations to buy supplies they need The Florida Department of Management will

Generosity runs deep on the islands

Beacon hosts Holiday House of Hope

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

There has never been a more urgent time for generosity in Southwest Florida as there is now Countless families are still homeless and in urgent need of help following Hurricane Ian more than two months ago

The Beacon of Hope, a United Way partner agency, has seen a particular need in the Pine Island, Matlacha, Bokeelia and St James City areas, and is looking to do all it can

This past weekend, the organization held its 13th annual Holiday House of Hope event at the historic Tarpon Lodge, its biggest fundraiser of the year, where there was no shortage of good cheer and a desire to help.

“For 13 years, we’ve brought in artists and authors and brought in their beautiful wares The community comes out and it’s just become a tradition for the island,” said Elsie Stearns, organizer of the event “People can come in and relax and enjoy ”

Marina owner: Adjusting a key to surviving Ian

By CRAIG GARRETT news@breezenewspapers com

Adjustment has kept Staci Stevens in business

The Monroe Canal Marina in St. James City that she co-owns was a healthy store, had a repair business, boat rentals, supplies, fishing charters and 10 docks, pretty much the ideal Florida waterfront shop Then Hurricane Ian struck

Things were much different in the following weeks, said Stevens, a Realtor and nursery co-owner who now leases to a Panama City firm that hoists and stores damaged boats on the marina grounds, for instance RJ Marine Construction has pulled about 250 boats from the waterways, trucking the smaller ones a mile away on Stringfellow Road The 20- and 30-ton yachts are

kept on marina grounds A worker operating a 200-ton crane and other salvage crews had worked 6-day weeks since Ian, breaking for Thanksgiving They expected a short break for the holidays, one worker said

A tree nursery owned by the Stevens family accommodates the smaller boats until insurance settlements

“We usually bring in about $50,000-plus But maybe not this year because many people have other things to spend their money on,” said Carol Regan, president of the Beacon of Hope’s board “I’ve signed checks for more than $90,000, and the money we’ve received for Ian relief, we’ve set aside It’s all going to the community ”

The first two days, Friday and Saturday, were late afternoon and evening affairs for adults, with live music, wine and appetizers Guests were able to stroll the grounds, enjoy the local vendors and artisans, take part in the tree auction and view the spectacular sunset over the water

Workers from RJ Marine Construction use a 200-ton crane to place storm damaged boats for storage on the Monroe Canal Marina property in St. James City.

CRAIG GARRETT

Sunday was family fun day, featuring Santa Claus and fun activities for the kids The firefighters from the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District cooked hot dogs, and the Matlacha Hookers Bobbie Holloway Memorial and the American Legion were doing crafts for the kids There was also face painting, and a deejay doing Christmas line dancing.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director

Feeding those in need

Insurance Busters serving free meals at German American Club in Cape

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Since Hurricane Ian devastated the Southwest Florida area, many organizations and agencies have stepped up to the plate to provide relief to local residents

One group that arrived imminently after the storm to help feed residents is InsuranceBusters net Out of Galveston, Texas, now with an office in Port Charlotte, they came to the area to provide hot meals for those who were without power, water and, unfortunately for many, their home

Now set up at the German American Social Club in Cape Coral for the past month and a half, delicious barbecue and cold drinks are available daily for anyone that needs it

“We do this every time there's a big storm,” said Chuck Townsend, public insurance adjuster apprentice for Insurance Busters “We came down the day before the storm ”

The group can provide more than a thousand hot meals per day, and that's exactly what they've been doing since arriving

Townsend, being a veteran, reached out to the American Legion commanders locally and asked if there was a suitable location they could set up to distribute food and drinks

They got set up with a spot at the American Legion in Port Charlotte and while in the area, began looking for other spaces they could set up areas to help feed residents, and drove by the GASC

“I thought it would be perfect,” Townsend said

He reached out to the club over social media and the two organizations eventually met at a local fundraising benefit After speaking and naturally ironing out any skepticism, the group got the green light to set up shop

“We don't want anything from them except a place to feed people,” Townsend said

GASC President Stephen Bauer added, “They said they would put a bucket out and any donation would go 100% to the German American Club in exchange for just being able to occupy the parking lot We're just working on an emergency-basis after the storm as you would A ‘you help me, I help you ’ It’s gone really well ”

Bauer said donations collected have really helped the club fund some of the repairs they've had to make Insurance Busters also hired an engineering firm that did repair drawings for their entry portico

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Members of InsuranceBusters.net are serving up free, hot barbecue meals at the German American Social Club in Cape Coral They have been in Southwest Florida since Hurricane Ian feeding residents at no cost, and are collecting donations for the GASC and toys for local children

The building was red-tagged after the storm due to the entry portico having significant uplift and the four columns that held it up were compromised

“They actually paid the engineer fee for us,” Bauer said

The drawings have been submitted to the city and have been waiting for three weeks to be approved, Bauer said

“In the meantime, we've cleaned up our Beer Garden area,” he added

All of the fallen trees and debris have been cleared, and the site was even used as a staging area for out-oftown linemen trucks resorting power to the area Now, volunteers are working on the outbuildings -- outdoor kitchen and bar areas They have had temporary roof repairs done on the big hall, and the last step is getting the portico finished

“ T h o s e d o n a t i o n s h a v e b e e n h e l p i n g p a y f o r (repairs),” Bauer said “A lot will be covered by donations We only have one day left of work to do once the permit is approved ”

What's not going to be covered by donations is the $50,000 spent clearing the Beer Garden area of massive amounts of debris

Insurance Busters are at GASC every day serving hot brisket, smoked brisket, burgers, dogs, sides and more They get all of their supplies from Sam's Club and are paid for by the organization's founder, Cal Spoon

They’ve set up a triangle around areas damaged the most to get people fed, and have served thousands per day in some locations

Townsend said at the GASC, they have plenty of food to serve and would love to see more residents turn out to get a free meal People can stop by from 11 a m to 2 p m each day

“We don't care who you are or what you do, it's for everybody and anybody,” Townsend said “If giving somebody a hot meal and an ice-cold drink can put a smile on somebody's face and kind of take the weight off their shoulders for 30 minutes -- I can't tell you how many people that just want to talk and vent and have a shoulder to cry on. It's been incredible to be able to do this and be in a position to do it ”

Insurance Busters is collecting donations for the club that suffered heavy damage from the storm GASC had to cancel its annual Oktoberfest celebration this year -one of the most looked-forward to annual events in Southwest Florida

“Any donations go straight to the German American Social Club,” Townsend said

B a u e r s a i d t h e c l u b i s l o o k i n g t o p u t o n a n Oktoberfest-style major event either the last weekend of February or first weekend in March He hopes to have the building open for normal operations by Dec. 16.

Toys are also being collected at the food distribution site, all to be donated to local children

They are, of course, available to help with insurance claims

“The difference with us is when we come in to the area that had destruction is we feed,” Townsend said “We do not advertise our business We don't go out seeking clients for at least the first month We just come in and feed everybody Once all the dust has kind of settled, the groups that come in to volunteers to feed leave There's still a lot of people, especially on Pine Island, that don't have power. We're getting to those residents every single day We're letting them take what they need for lunch and dinner

“Anybody that comes up and wants to speak with us about their insurance claim, we're there to help them But we're there first to feed ”

The club, as of now, has granted permission for Insurance Busters to be on site until Jan 18 They will be away starting Dec 17 to go home for Christmas, but will be back Jan 3

However long they are at the GASC, they will keep serving the area when their time there is done

“We plan on being here for at least two or three years,” Townsend said

For additional information, visit www Insurance Busters net

The German American Social Club is located at 2 1 0 1 S W P i n e I s l a n d Road, east of the Burnt Store Road/Veterans Parkway intersection, in Cape Coral.

Partnerships bring sweet dreams for children of Southwest Florida

Hurricane Ian damaged a lot in Southwest Florida, but it didn’t touch our spirit of community

In the two months since the storm, we’ve experienced the best in humanity – neighbors h e l p i n g n e i g h b o r s , s t r a n g e r s h e l p i n g strangers and businesses helping anyone who needs a lift

Longstanding partnerships prove invaluable during times of crisis, and United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades has been tapping into its vast network daily One recent example involved multiple partners

The School District of Lee County has its pulse on families across the community Teachers, guidance counselors and social workers have been speaking directly with students and parents, learning that many are displaced In fact, the number of students e x p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s s p i k e d f r o m 1,400 before the storm to at least 3,600 after the hurricane

“It’s been an around-the-clock effort to try to engage with those families, get them the support they need and connect them to resources in the community so these students can be successful in school,” said Paul Milford, the School District’s coordinator of social work services

Although school resumed in mid-October, social workers and counselors learned that many students have been sleeping on sofas or floors because their beds were flooded or damaged The School District reached out to United Way, which then reached out to Rooms To Go, a Florida-based company with a history of generosity after natural disasters

“Rooms To Go has worked with United

Lake O and red tide

To the editor:

Red tide is present along our coastline and it has been documented that discharges from Lake O, while not the cause, exacerbate the situation.

The U S Army Corps of Engineers just announced that they are increasing the disc h a r g e s f r o m L a k e O i n t o t h e Caloosahatchee but not into the St Lucie River

WHY?

Could it be that Rep Mast is much more pro-active and vocal than Rep Donalds?

W a y o f L e e , H e n d r y a n d Glades in the past, so when they called for mattresses to help kids who were sleeping on the floor, we were more than happy to assist,” said Janis Altshuler, senior vice president at Rooms To Go “We are grateful for the great work United Way does, for i t s q u i c k r e s p o n s e a n d thoughtful process of acquisition and distribution We are glad to do our part to help the c o m m u n i t y r e c o v e r a n d rebuild ”

Rooms To Go committed to providing 1,000 mattresses

JEANNINE JOY

Guest Commentary

Then, United Way began searching for a partner to provide bed frames In stepped Amazon, which offered a corresponding number of platform frames N e x t , U n i t e d W a y t a p p e d i n t o t h e Southwest Florida Emergency Relief Fund to provide blankets, sheets and pillowcases

Once those items were secured, school staff began sending messages to impacted families, inviting them to select an appointment time to pick up items. The School District offered space for a distribution event, and just days later, trucks and SUVs flowed through the line as appreciative parents picked up new beds for their children At two distribution events before Thanksgiving, parents also were handed a basket full of food and snacks to make their holiday meal a success

Letters to the Editor

But all of this begs the question, when will enough ever be enough?

When will they stop playing political football with this and stop prioritizing “big sugar” and agriculture and place the priority on the citizens of Florida whom they swore an oath to?

And last, but definitely not least, when will they start addressing the root causes of our water problems instead of throwing reputation-enhancing multi-million-dollar bandaids that are designed to make the public think they are reacting to these areas of concern but do not cure or eliminate the prob-

We want your opinion

Road, Ste 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www breezenewspapers com or faxed to 283-0232 All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle.com

One of those parents was Roni Price of San Carlos Park During the hurricane, her ceiling caved in, flooding everything inside her home She is temporarily living elsewhere, but worried about furnishing her home once repairs are completed

“It’s like starting over with the things you would need to move into a new place – beds, couches, mattresses, TVs, blankets,” Price said “I’m thankful that United Way is out here helping us out because we really do need it and it’s so much appreciated.”

We know the need is far greater than 1,000 mattresses Families need clothing, food, transportation, financial assistance and more, and United Way will continue serving as a conduit to connect families with the resources they need

United Way and the School District of Lee County are planning an additional mattress and supply distribution event on Dec 9 Parents in need of assistance are encouraged to speak with their child’s school counselor or social worker to register to attend

Jeannine Joy is president and CEO for United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties For more information about the Southwest Florida Emergency Relief Fund, please visit UnitedWayLee org/hurricaneian-relief-fund

lems

At some point, I hope, the citizens of this state that they treat as mindless will catch on Norman Cannon

Please do not judge me

To the editor:

Do I abandon my home?

Or do I stay to protect it?

Will the storm really come?

Or will it take a turn?

My head spins as I listen to the reports They do their best to keep us informed, But theirs is not an easy job

It is a fluid process,

Constantly changing.

Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with

I decide to stay

I have my reasons

The impending doom is frightening I prepare my home, And stock up on supplies

I have done all that I can Now I wait

Then comes the news, It is heading straight for me

Fort Myers

Christmas Bazaar and Live Nativity Scene Saturday at St. John’s Episcopal Church

Event being presented by CW Fudge Factory

The CW Fudge Factory will have its Christmas Bazaar and Live Nativity Scene on the grounds of St John’s Episcopal Church this Saturday, Dec 17 Performances will be at 5, 6 and p.m. Each performance will last approximately 30 minutes

Because many islanders have said

they've been unable to attend the performances on Christmas Eve due to other commitments, organizers hope the earlier date provides the opportunity for more to attend

Please bring your folding chairs and any drinks or snacks you want to enjoy and plan to do some Christmas shopping

at the Christmas Bazaar starting at 3 p m

William and Carlos’ famous hot chocolate will be available in limited supply during the performances

Please also bring a canned food item for the Pine Island Food Pantry

St John’s is at 7771 Stringfellow Road in St. James City. Please email any questions to mrktglady@gmail com

From page 1

are reached, she said Ian cleared most of those 20 acres, she added Palm trees destroyed in the storm are used as boat stands

“Ian had done a good number” on nursery property, said Stevens, an island Realtor who manages 30 rental properties, three of which survived Ian intact St James City itself was hammered by Ian, which was clocked as a Category 4 hurricane Matlacha was just as devastated Major damage even weeks later was still evident, debris and trees piled alongside Stringfellow on Friday

Inside Monroe Canal Marina, blue roof tarps were an eerie reminder of the storm’s power, with not much left inside as wind, rain and surge took their toll The marina initially was to stage emergency supplies and equipment for state and federal authorities, as roads were impassable

Inside the remains of her marina store, Stevens talked of volunteers arriving to help One man had trailered a boat from Key West with bottled water, for example. A retired contractor had wanted to help rebuild homes, she said, hammering and nailing things back together.

Monroe Canal Marina had also kept its workers on the payroll, helping with boat salvage, cleanups or returning some sense

of normalcy with charters And the nearby businesses and shop owners were doing the same, she added

Adjusting was the key to surviving, Stevens said “It’s a different way of doing busi-

ness,” she said “You go with what works now, kind of pivot ”

CRAIG GARRETT

Staci Stevens getting some work done in the Hurricane Ian-damaged Monroe Canal Marina store in St James City

Matlacha Christmas Tree Lighting Event tonight

Matlacha’s Christmas Tree Lighting Event will be Wednesday, Dec 14, at 6 p m , at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Island Avenue

Santa Mike and Mrs Santa Jan will be waiting to meet with the children and hand out candy canes

The Lee County Sheriff’s Department will be patrolling the cross walk for your

safety

Music and homemade cookies will be part of the lighting event

Let’s light up Matlacha, brighter than ever It’s time for Matlacha to shine again Matlacha will shine again We can do it!

The “Let’s Light Up Matlacha” event is a proud community endeavor

Letters to the Editor

From page 4

I am stuck here now

I must wait it out

I will hunker down with my friends We will comfort each other Maybe it will not be as bad as predicted

It is here now.

And it is bad

I watch cars float into the street

I watch the water enter my building

I am frightened

When the storm passes, I view the devastation

I am saddened

I am exhausted

It is unbearable

I am told to evacuate It is unsafe to stay I grab what I can fit into a small suitcase I am trucked out of my city

My son waits in a safe area, To take me to his home

I feel fortunate to have a place to go

Not everyone does

But what comes next?

Will my home be standing when I return?

Will my city ever be the same? Where will I live?

I am grateful to have survived, But unless you have lived through this, It is impossible to understand how it feels

And when people say, “you should have left,”

I think but for the grace of God, there go you

So give me your prayers, Give me your empathy, Give me your kindness But please do not judge me

Lisa Andrews Maine

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

pay for the program, $25 million to go out and buy materials

“If you need your house gutted, mucked out and repaired, then we can do that The State of Florida can pay a 501c3,” Guthrie said, adding that it is up to $5,000 in mold remediation and temporary repairs “What we want to do is get you to the situation to get mold and mildew out and get you back into something better than now ”

He also shared information about Hurricane Ian debris c l e a n u p , w h i c h c a n b e f o u n d a t w w w I a n D e b r i s Cleanup com

Comfort Stations, which are paid for by the Division of Emergency Management, will remain on the island for a time uncertain, as there will be a time when they will no longer be reimbursable expenses

The 50 percent rule was also addressed, as there is still a great deal of confusion

Guthrie said the 50 percent rule is a Florida State Statute, a Florida law for Florida building codes attached to flood plains, which went into effect in 2004

“It says when you have a home destroyed by a disaster, more than 50 percent damage must be rebuilt to Florida building code What is 50 percent is defined by the local Board of County Commissioners (or) your city council defines what the 50 percent rule is,” he said

A property owner can look at their appraised value of their structure on the Lee County Property Appraiser website and divide it in half

“If it costs you more than that number to rebuild and repair that home, you must comply with the new Florida building code,” Guthrie said “It is a Florida State statute It is related loosely to the national flood plains, but the decision of what 50 percent is defined by every local jurisdiction ”

A FEMA representative said there has been more than $19 million put into Pine Island for recovery with $15 8 million going to residents on Pine Island for home owners assistance for repairs, $3 2 for other need assessments and $2 3 million for rental assistance

Representatives of island organizations also spoke during the Tuesday meeting to provide an update of their assistance

Matlacha Hookers Vice Madam Julia Gaylor said since the hurricane they have been organizing with a lot of different groups, as well as organizations on the island and independent volunteers that have traveled from all over. Now the organization is focusing on rebuilding supplies, which is being done with a partnership with the American Legion

“We will be working together purchasing plywood, drywall, drywall screws, mold mitigation cleaning products, totes, electrical outlets and various other items that we are hoping to partner with Ace Hardware here on the island to bring to the island Our goal would be weekly,” she said

The Matlacha Hookers have also been paying for Honey Wagon Services, which pumps out black water

from RVs on the island

“You must be a Pine Island resident and be living in your RV because your home was damaged by Hurricane Ian You can call them directly and set up that service with them,” Gaylor said

She said they are now providing free transportation services on the island by working with a taxi service in Cape Coral The service started Dec 10 and runs from 8 a m to 2 p m There are stops in St James City and Bokeelia, where the taxi service will pick up individuals and take them to such public areas as Winn-Dixie, Publix, the library, gas stations and doctor offices

“You can call the taxi service and let them know and coordinate a time at one of the predetermined stops,” Gaylor said

It was also shared that the Pine Island Cares group has c r e a t e d a r e s o u r c e g u i d e , w h i c h c a n b e f o u n d a t w w w G r e a t e r P i n e I s l a n d R e s o u r c e G u i d e c o m P r i n t e d versions can also be found at the American Legion Post 136, Beacon of Hope, Pine Island United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church of Pine Island, Pine Island Community Church, Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Station 1 and the Pine Island Public Library

“We have put together a push notification system If you sign up for it you are agreeing to get notification When we are doing building supplies at the fire station, it alerts that person to let them know where the pick-up would

Sponsored by:

The Matlacha Hookers have been working diligently on gathering information about free resources available from not only local island organizations but also state and federal level The Pine Island Cares Resource Guide was developed with the cooperation of PIC organizations, Things To Do On Pine Island and volunteers in constant look out for updates The PDF guide and the website is updated as soon as new information is available A printed version (which may not be the most recent as it changes daily) can be picked up at the following locations and the most current version can be downloaded from the website https://greaterpineislandresourceguide com/ The most current version from

GPICA

be,” Gaylor said

From page 8

To sign up for the push notification system, residents should email PIHurricaneRelief@gmail com with their name, address, cell phone number and email address, which will all be held confidentially

American Legion Commander Lt Col Aaron Barreda said they have transitioned from free to a paid lunch for those that still need meals He said in addition, the American Legion has representatives helping people sign up for transitional housing, in conjunction with the Greater Pine Island Alliance and the Beacon of Hope

The Cajun Navy Ground Force reported it would be pulling out of the island on Dec 12 and is looking for organizations to look at the remaining tickets to make sure the island is being taken care of and have their needs met

Katie Arnett of Mullet Runners said they started the organization and began working on the island three days after the hurricane

“We couldn't leave all the people We stayed on the island and continue to help the community,” she said, adding that they have helped more than 150 homes

Mullet Runners is trying to focus on everybody they can, while finding the resources and bringing them to people, as many are still isolated

Nancy Buthman from Beacon of Hope said they began in 2004 after Hurricane Charley and remained

“We are here We are kind of long-term We have a mental health counselor, transportation to medical appointments and treatments, Meals on Wheels,” she said

Before Hurricane Ian they gave out 25 meals a day, which has gone down to 9 The food bank is open every Saturday morning at 9:30 a m and anybody can get food from the emergency pantry on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

First Baptist Church of Pine Island Senior Pastor Jim Olsen said they have seen people coming together in unity He said it is awesome to see how people have risen up and loved their neighbor like themselves

“It's awesome to see Pine Island people so giving of themselves We are here to partner with all the organizations on the island,” Olsen said “There is an outpouring of supplies and finances and people off the island donating so much to the island As much despair as you hear and see, there is 10 times as much hope on the island of what is going on ”

Over the last seven to eight weeks, he said they have been hosting teams from all over the country that are coming to the community to serve Olsen encouraged those who are in need of help to fill out a green form, so when the teams come in town they can pair up the right skilled individual for a particular job

“People are paying to come to our island to work on these islands They are using their own resources We need to make sure that we are grateful,” Olsen said

Olsen said they are continuing to offer supplies from 10 a m to 2 p m He said they have 10 pallets of materials and encouraged the community to take what they need

For those who need hardware, Olsen said they will gladly let them in the room

“You have to be a Pine Island resident Just take what you need,” Olsen said

Beginning on Jan 30, he said a group of people, about 20 to 50, are coming to the church to work on the island for those that cannot get FEMA money, or cannot afford to repair their homes

“They have a commitment to us for at least six months if not up to three to five years,” Olsen said

Each speaker was also asked to share what they continue to see as a need on the islands post Hurricane Ian Gaylor said housing is still a great need, as renters do not have a place to go if their house was damaged She said it is

Dec 7

They have also implemented a PUSH notification system where pertinent information is sent out via text to residents who enroll in the push notification system They can enroll by sending an email Subject PUSH ENROLL with their name, cell number and address to PIHurricaneRelief@ gmail com

Pick up locations:

∫ American Legion Post 136, 4106 Stringfellow Road, Saint James City

∫ Beacon of Hope, 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City

Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia

∫

First Baptist Church of Pine Island, 5363 Avenue D, Bokeelia

∫

Pine Island Community Church, 5320 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City

∫

∫ Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District (Station 1): 5700 Pine Island Rd, Bokeelia

∫ Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia

very trying to find and place displaced residents into homes “There is still people living in tents, in dilapidated homes and RVs and it is not acceptable,” she said

Another need is a confident stream of information that has integrity for islanders

The Beacon of Hope helps provide diapers for newborn babies and meals for the e l d e r l y a n d e v e r y t h i n g i n b e t w e e n , Stearns said

“Education, English as a second language, GED courses, programs that help p e o p l e c r e a t e r e s u m e s , f o o d s t a m p s , things like that. Then we have the Attic Thrift Store," Stearns said “The island supports the Beacon through their donations to the thrift store as well as Useppa Islands and the surrounding islands ”

Stearns said she hoped to raise awareness of the Beacon of Hope as much as the money, as what the organization provides has become more instrumental now than ever

“Since the hurricane, we have raised a

significant amount of money so we’re able to do cash assistance such as deposits on vehicles, utilities, appliances. This is to help with the operating expenses of the organization and to give to the community,” Stearns said Santa and Mrs Claus spent to weekend on Pine Island, getting a little sun before the home stretch at the North Pole

“We chose to spend our time donating to the kids We’re stopping along, spreading cheer to all the people,” Santa said “I get a lot of requests, but what I usually get is how good they’ve been this year, and they really have. But Sunday is what makes it all worth it It’s the closest you can be to a superhero ”

A m o n g t h e v e n d o r s w a s D o n n a

Schneider, owner of Momma Donna’s, w h i c h m a k e s j e l l i e s , j a m s , c h u t n e y s , honey, pickled products and much more on their farm

“I’m here to support the Beacon of Hope They’ve been great to help support our local businesses, families and anyone w h o n e e d s t o l i t t l e h e l p i n g h a n d , ” Schneider said. “They help support me.”

Linda Bohacek, a Matlacha Hooker, came to help the community and found the vendors awesome When asked what the Beacon of Hope does, she said everything.

“What don’t they do? They provide transportation so people can go to their medical appointments, work with displaced families on temporary housing, you name it,” Bohacek said “This event is like getting back to normal, doing normal things.”

J o n a t h a n L a w r e n c e , left, plays the violin during the 13th annua l B e a c o n o f H o p e H o l i d a y H o u s e o f Hope event at the hist o r i c Ta r p o n L o d g e on Saturday Nancy Buthman, below left, and event organizer E l s i e S t e a r n s e n j o y some wine and fun during the event.

CHUCK BALLARO