ST INS CARES-Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife -What Happens To Wildlife When Empty Lots Disappear

ST INS CARES-Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife -What Happens To Wildlife When Empty Lots Disappear

Cape Coral has more burrowing owls than anywhere else in Florida, and the empty lots they depend on are disappearing fast. We sit down with Janet Windisch from Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife to hear how a retired chemist turned a love of birding into hands-on wildlife conservation after Hurricane Ian, and why this all-volunteer organization has become a quiet force for habitat preservation in Southwest Florida. We dig into the real work behind protecting native species: staking and trimming burrowing owl burrows so they are not destroyed by mowing or construction, responding to community calls through a wildlife hotline, and supporting other critical animals like gopher tortoises, a keystone species whose burrows help hundreds of others survive. Janet also shares how the group maintains purple martin colonies, operates a public butterfly house, and helped rebuild the zebra longwing population after the hurricane. You’ll also hear about new monitoring efforts for ospreys, wading birds, and bald eagles that blend citizen science with local stewardship. If you’ve ever wondered what you can do as a homeowner, we get specific: skip rat poison to prevent secondary poisoning in owls, hawks, and eagles, cut back on fertilizers and insecticides, and plant native Florida landscaping that supports pollinators and wildlife. Janet explains fundraising efforts like the Burrowing Owl Festival and the Adopt an Owl program, plus flexible volunteering opportunities for every schedule. Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review to help more people find the local nonprofits protecting our community. Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Janet Windisch 239-980-2593 PO Box 152761 Cape Coral, FL 33915 ccfriendsofwildlife.org [https://ccfriendsofwildlife.org/] To Report: Burrowing Owls, Gopher Tortoises CCFW: 239-980-2593 Injured Wildlife CROW: 239-472-3644 Harassment of Wildlife FWC: 888-404-3922 Rotary Park Wildlife Info 239-549-4606 Monitor Lizards CC Environmental Dept: 239-574-0785 State Insurance USA 4450 Camino Real Way Ft Myers, FL 33966 239-567-9992 office@StateInsuranceUSA.com [office@StateInsuranceUSA.com] stateinsuranceusa.com [https://stateinsuranceusa.com/] https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa [https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa] #StateInsuranceUSA #SupportLocal #WeLoveOurClients @Stateinsuranceusa Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor To Nominate Someone to be Featured Or To Subscribe to the Newsletter CLICK HERE [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/] https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/ [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/]

ST INS CARES-Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation-Water Safety That Saves Lives

Drowning is one of those risks people underestimate until it hits close to home, and in Florida, water is everywhere. I’m Gail Langner with State Insurance Cares, and I sat down with Terri Ballo, president of the Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation, to talk about what actually prevents child drowning and why “it only takes a second” is not just a saying. Terry shares the heartbreaking moment that pushed her to take action, and how that personal turning point became a statewide mission built on education, access, and community support. We get practical about water safety for families, grandparents, and anyone with a pool, canal, or beach nearby. Terri breaks down the “layers of protection” that save lives: constant supervision, swim lessons, barriers like pool fences, door alarms that alert you when a child slips outside, and CPR skills that buy precious time in an emergency. We also talk about how quickly kids can move, why drowning is often silent, and how easy it is for adults at gatherings to assume someone else is watching. A big focus is access. The Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation provides swim lesson scholarships for families across the state, including many who do not qualify for state vouchers but still struggle to afford lessons. Terri explains where lessons happen through certified swim schools, how the scholarship model works, and how partnerships with HOAs and property managers can expand water safety education and equipment at community pools. If you care about drowning prevention, swim lessons, and pool safety in Southwest Florida and beyond, this conversation gives you clear next steps. Subscribe, share this with a parent or grandparent, and leave a review so more families can find it. Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation Terri Ballo (239) 919-2001 [https://www.google.com/search?q=Florida+Drowning+Prevention+Foundation&rlz=1C1HKFL_enUS1214US1214&oq=Florida+Drowning+Prevention+Foundation&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDEwMjdqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#] 2670 Horseshoe Dr. N. Ste 203 Naples, FL 34104 fldpf.org [https://www.fldpf.org/about] State Insurance USA 4450 Camino Real Way Ft Myers, FL 33966 239-567-9992 office@StateInsuranceUSA.com [office@StateInsuranceUSA.com] stateinsuranceusa.com [https://stateinsuranceusa.com/] https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa [https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa] #StateInsuranceUSA #SupportLocal #WeLoveOurClients @Stateinsuranceusa Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor To Nominate Someone to be Featured Or To Subscribe to the Newsletter CLICK HERE [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/] https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/ [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/]

ST INS CARES-Bonita Springs Assistance Office Keeps Families Fed & Housed

A rent notice, a medical bill, a week without wages, or even higher grocery prices can knock a working family off balance fast, especially in Southwest Florida. We’re joined by Caily Martin, Executive Director of Bonita Assistance Office in Bonita Springs, to talk honestly about what crisis support looks like when you treat people like neighbors, not numbers. Gail Langner asks the questions many of us are afraid to ask until we need help ourselves: who qualifies, how private is it, and what can you do when you’re trying to hold it together? Caily breaks down the organization’s core programs, including a drive-up food pantry that provides a full week of groceries three times a week, with a strong focus on fresh produce and cook-at-home staples. We also talk through the details that make support feel dignified: clients stay in their cars, volunteers bring bags directly out, and the team intentionally varies items week to week so families get what they can actually use. You’ll hear how they distribute diapers and wipes through Healthy Start Diaper Bank, plus other essentials that can quietly make or break a household budget. The most moving moment comes from a case management story: a mother with young twins facing eviction after the sudden loss of her husband. Caily explains how Bonita Assistance Office bridged the rent gap, then connected the family to Valerie’s House for grief support and CareerSource for training and career growth, showing how smart referrals can turn a crisis into a path forward. If you want to help, we share clear ways to donate, volunteer, or host a diaper or food drive. Subscribe, share this episode with someone in Southwest Florida, and leave a review to help more neighbors find support when they need it most. Bonita Springs Assistance Office Caily Martin (239) 992-3034 25300 Bernwood Dr, Ste 6, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 info@bonitaassistance.org bonitaassistance.org [https://www.bonitaassistance.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS4sjFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiMThlbms5ejc1emFlTlBic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvP80KBTQu9DVj8tJXzhrQPVXjI-P1PD8js0l6N93kV8891WPAth6SvEWmOU_aem_WxSTzRN2lkcFXvAg8SbMeg] @BonitaAssistance State Insurance USA 4450 Camino Real Way Ft Myers, FL 33966 239-567-9992 office@StateInsuranceUSA.com [office@StateInsuranceUSA.com] stateinsuranceusa.com [https://stateinsuranceusa.com/] https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa [https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa] #StateInsuranceUSA #SupportLocal #WeLoveOurClients @Stateinsuranceusa Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor To Nominate Someone to be Featured Or To Subscribe to the Newsletter CLICK HERE [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/] https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/ [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/]

ST INS CARES-Estero Rotary Club of Estero-Service Above Self In Estero

A lot of people say they want to “give back,” but the real question is how. We sit down with Gary Israel, president of the Rotary Club of Estero, to get specific about what community service looks like when it’s organized, consistent, and welcoming. Rotary is one of the oldest service organizations in the United States, and Gary explains how local clubs take on real problems close to home while still carrying a bigger mission of service above self.  We dig into the projects that make the Rotary Club of Estero stand out in Southwest Florida, especially its youth programs. From Rotakids at Three Oaks Elementary to hands-on service like packaging rice and beans for Interfaith Charities Food Bank, the goal is to help kids build responsibility and discover that helping others can actually feel fun. We also talk about practical community support like school recycling efforts and a STEM-based school garden that teaches students how to grow vegetables and think differently about where food comes from.  You’ll also hear how Rotary funds this work through local fundraising events, including a successful golf tournament, a 5K run supporting children’s mental health, and community celebrations with raffles and 50-50 drawings. Gary shares how listeners can visit a meeting, join a social event, or donate to the Rotary Club Estero Foundation in a tax-deductible way. If you care about volunteering, charitable giving, and local nonprofits in Estero, this conversation offers a clear path to action. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves service, and leave us a review so more people can find the helpers in their own community. Rotary Club of Estero Gary Israel 10450 Corkscrew Commons Dr, Estero, FL 33928 (239) 287-4246 glipdg51@gmail.com esterorotary.org [https://esterorotary.org] @esterorotary State Insurance USA 4450 Camino Real Way Ft Myers, FL 33966 239-567-9992 office@StateInsuranceUSA.com [office@StateInsuranceUSA.com] stateinsuranceusa.com [https://stateinsuranceusa.com/] https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa [https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa] #StateInsuranceUSA #SupportLocal #WeLoveOurClients @Stateinsuranceusa Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor To Nominate Someone to be Featured Or To Subscribe to the Newsletter CLICK HERE [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/] https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/ [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/]

ST INS CARES-Healthy Start SWFL-Diapers Change Everything

Diapers sound small until you learn the truth: families can’t buy them with SNAP or WIC, daycares often require them, and running out can spiral into stress, missed work, and avoidable doctor visits. We sit down with Amanda Brunson, Associate Executive Director of Healthy Start Southwest Florida, to explain how one nonprofit is closing that gap and strengthening maternal and infant health across Lee, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties. Amanda shares her personal why, including her own experience with a premature birth, limited family support nearby, and the challenges that follow a NICU stay. That story connects directly to the heart of Healthy Start’s work: home visiting programs that show up consistently, build trust, and help parents navigate pregnancy, newborn care, and early childhood with practical guidance and real resources. We dig into what Healthy Start actually does day to day, from the Connect coordinated intake and referral system that matches families to the right services, to multiple home visiting options like Nurse-Family Partnership with registered nurse visitors, and Team Dad, a program built specifically for fathers. You’ll also hear about Help Me Grow developmental screenings and the fetal and infant mortality review work that looks for community-level improvements in birth outcomes. Along the way, Amanda breaks down how their diaper bank scales impact through partner pickup sites and National Diaper Bank purchasing power, and why monetary donations can stretch farther than most people expect. If you want pregnancy support, parenting resources, or a way to help families thrive in Southwest Florida, this one offers clear next steps. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about maternal and infant health, and leave a review to help more neighbors find these resources. Healthy Start Southwest Florida Amanda Brunson (239) 425-6920 Customer Service: (800) 883-1959 Fort Myers Office: 1921 Jefferson Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33901 healthystartbaby.org [https://healthystartbaby.org/] State Insurance USA 4450 Camino Real Way Ft Myers, FL 33966 239-567-9992 office@StateInsuranceUSA.com [office@StateInsuranceUSA.com] stateinsuranceusa.com [https://stateinsuranceusa.com/] https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa [https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa] #StateInsuranceUSA #SupportLocal #WeLoveOurClients @Stateinsuranceusa Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor To Nominate Someone to be Featured Or To Subscribe to the Newsletter CLICK HERE [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/] https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/ [https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasst/]