Amanda Whittamore

In a lot of places, when adversity hits, they slap a label ending with the descriptive “Strong" on the response. For Pine Island residents, that response means more than just a label, it's a motivation for neighbors lending a hand to neighbors.One organization that takes that spirit to heart — the Greater Pine Island Alliance — has been in full help mode for over a week with volunteers assisting residents picking up the pieces after Hurricane Helene blew past Southwest Florida.

The Clinician Awareness Program, which was taught recently at North Collier Fire & Rescue, teaches mental health clinicians about the fire service so they can better serve firefighters seeking counseling.

Four students from Fort Myers High School took second place in the group performance category at the National History Day competition in College Park, Maryland this summer.

The Big Backpack Event began with the idea that not all Southwest Florida children had the supplies they needed to get a good education.Twenty-five years later, that's still the idea.That need could be seen Sunday in Fort Myers. Again, as has been the case at every Big Backpack Event, a line of those needing school supplies snaked around the distribution area.

Recently, school officials, teachers and volunteers gathered at Franklin Park Elementary School to help put together that new furniture, stock library shelves and prepare for the children who will flock here in less than three weeks.

Community Cooperative in Fort Myers, makes those in need feel right at home, hunger, food pantry, helping to eliminate hunger and homelessness

Summer, for many people, brings sun and fun ... for others though, it brings hunger.Nearly 178,000 people in Southwest Florida faced food insecurity in 2022 and nearly 41,000 of those were children, according to the most recent data available from Feeding America. Those numbers are up from the previous year and are expected to keep rising as the Southwest Florida population grows.In an effort to mitigate those statistics, GL Homes, one of Florida’s largest homebuilders, recently kicked off its 2024 “Summer of Service” with a “Pack the Pantry” event in support of the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Dunbar-Jupiter Hammon Public Library celebrates 50th anniversary.

The annual observation at the Coral Ridge Funeral Home in Cape Coral includes many from all branches of the U.S. military.

Equal Ground is a Black-led community organization that monitors the Florida legislature and advocates for the Black community.