The Community House joins The Red Cross as a Community Adaptation Partner
Community
The Sanibel Community Association (The Community House) is pleased to announce that it has recently been named an official Community Adaptation Program (CAP) partner of The Red Cross. It is an honor to be a part of this impactful program and The Community House looks forward to assisting the Island in this way.
As we enter the height of storm season, it is more important than ever to be prepared and be here for the Island community. By partnering with the American Red Cross, The Sanibel Community Association and its staff are learning how to build and maintain a more resilient community, while also enhancing their ability to provide increased access to community services during and after disasters. Through partnership, they will better serve the community when disaster strikes and in times of need.
The Community House is pleased to join this partnership along with Community Housing and Resources (CHR) and Friends In Service Here (F.I.S.H.). Leveraging expertise and local knowledge, the organizations can work together to create effective and sustainable solutions to community challenges.
One of the commitments the Community House has made as part of this partnership is to provide a space for the community to gather to receive important information about preparedness and to distribute resources both before a storm or disaster happens and after an event when community members are cleaning or rebuilding. The Community House facility will be offered as a place where people can gather post-storm or hardship event for respite, to pick up supplies or food, to charge cell phones, to use the restrooms and take a break in the AC, to access Wi-Fi, and to connect with other community members.
In the fall of 2024, after two major storm events, the Community House opened its doors to the island community and did all of those things because it was just a natural response fueled by the impulse to help. “We were able to open right away after both Helene and Milton because our facility sustained minimal impact. We had no water inside, and our electricity was restored quickly. When Maria Espinoza from FISH contacted me to ask if they could move the food pantry to the Community House, I did not hesitate to say yes,” said Community House Executive Director Emily Ankerson. “From there, Maria put me in touch with the Red Cross and we applied to be an official CAP partner. It was a logical next step to formally pledge our support for the island community in this way.”
Part of the partnership includes collaborating with other area CAP partners. The Community House worked with FISH by providing a space for their annual Hurricane Prep workshop, for example. FISH, CHR and the Community House will be meeting soon to brainstorm further ways to collaborate. The Red Cross also offers trainings and workshops for the CAP partners and provides supplies, and information on obtaining additional resources and funding.
“While we are hoping for no more storms, we feel it is important to have a response plan in place just in case, said Ankerson. “The Community House, being the main gathering spot for the island, is a natural choice for people to come to, and to have its doors open wide to the community in times of need.”
For more information about the American Red Cross’ Community Adaptation Program, visit https://community-adaptation-program-arc-nhq-gis.hub.arcgis.com/.