Community gathering to focus on love for Sanibel, each other
Event
Postponed due to Hurricane Helene, a weekend event will offer the community the chance to come together to celebrate the islands and recovery since Hurricane Ian, as well as serve as a culmination of the recent Love Sanibel Businesses Back initiative.
Hosted by Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, the Love Sanibel Community Gathering will take place on Nov. 3 from noon to 3 p.m. at The Community House on Sanibel. Free and open to the public, it aims to recognize the love for each other and for the island that has seen the community through the last two years post-storm.
The Rev. William “Bill” Van Oss, rector for Saint Michael, previously explained that the church held a commemorative service last year to mark Ian’s anniversary and this year’s event will be a follow-up.
“On the second anniversary, I think it’s important for us to celebrate the progress that’s been made,” he said. “Celebrate our coming together as a community in our rebuilding and putting our lives back together.”
Church Director of Digital Communications & Christian Formation Sue Van Oss previously added that many are still traumatized by what occurred in September of 2022 and that it is understandable.
“We want people to realize this is going to be very joyful and uplifting,” she said of the event planned for this year and what it will entail. “This isn’t going to be reliving the memories of two years ago.”
Sue Van Oss continued that it will serve as the culmination of the church’s Love Sanibel Businesses Back launched earlier this year, which encouraged the community to patronize recovering venues.
“That’s really what the theme is, love for our island and for our community,” she said. “Love is a powerful thing, and it has helped our island heal and has helped our island recover.”
From 1 to 1:30 p.m., a program will be held featuring city and community leaders, live music and more, which will be emceed by Bill Van Oss. Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson will open the program with a few remarks. Next, church Assisting Priest the Rev. Suzy Post and Director Of Music Erik Entwistle will perform a song, with additional remarks from City Councilmember Holly Smith. The Sanibel School’s Elementary Choir will also perform, with a storytelling video to end the program.
“There’s a special video we’re calling ‘Love Letters to Sanibel,’” Sue Van Oss said. “It’s snippets of people sharing what they love about Sanibel and where they have seen love the past two years.”
The event will also feature activities.
“We’ll have several tables of craft activities for kids, as well as adults,” she said, adding that the Shellcrafters from The Community House will show adults how to make flowers from shells.
Attendees will have the opportunity to capture new memories.
“We’re having a professional photo booth, where people can take fun selfies and take home a photo strip and digital images,” Sue Van Oss said.
Multiple island-based entities will be represented with booths.
“They’re all island organizations,” she said. “Everyone from FISH (of Sanibel-Captiva) and Community Housing & Resources, to the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club and Santiva Islanders.”
The Island Store will provide free hot dogs for hungry attendees, and Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream will serve up free ice cream. In addition, HMSHost will provide free chips and beverages.
“Rotary has volunteered to serve the hot dogs,” Sue Van Oss said.
Local businesses have donated over 80 doors prizes and three grand prizes, including a two-night, three-day stay and $200 food-beverage gift card for the ‘Tween Waters Resort & Spa, a Sanibel Strong pendant from Congress Jewelers, and a private family session from the Sanibel Sea School.
“Everyone will get a ticket,” she said of winning door prizes.
Event supporters include the Bank of the Islands, city of Sanibel, HMSHost, The Community House, The Island Store and Pinocchio’s.
The community is encouraged to come out.
“This is an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate the progress that’s been made,” Bill Van Oss said. “This is the spirit of Sanibel. It’s people coming together and supporting each other and wanting to come together to celebrate the love that we have for each other and for our island, and this will be an opportunity to do that.”
For more information, visit https://www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org/ or call 239-472-2173.
Additionally, following the recent storms, the church has collaborated with the city and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation to expand the event to a Love Sanibel Back weekend. The SCCF’s Coastal Watch will hold a Love Sanibel Back Cleanup on Nov. 2 from 9 to 11 a.m. Volunteers will remove debris and other trash from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and help restore dune habitats.
As of Oct. 25, registration for the cleanup was fully booked, with all of the beach sites assigned.
The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
Love Sanibel Community Gathering
When
Nov. 3 from noon to 3 p.m.
Where
The Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
Details
Free and open to the public