This summer, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church is excited to launch the third year of the Love Sanibel Back initiative, a community-driven effort aimed at supporting our beloved Sanibel.
It's as simple as 1, 2, 3!
1. weekly opportunities to spread joy each week of summer
2. non profits (F.I.S.H. & CHR) will be the recipients of a drive to restock their pantries
3. community events to come together and connect!
Join us in our mission to bring joy, support our local businesses, and strengthen the bonds that make our community special. Your participation can make a real difference!
1. Weekly Ways to Spread Joy:
Love Sanibel Back has been transformed into a “Sanibel Summer of Joy.”
Each week, we’ll share one simple way to love the island: try a local favorite, thank a neighbor, support a nonprofit, find a treasure, or do a small act of kindness. Pick your joy, complete it, and share it—because small joys add up to a strong Sanibel.
2. Give Back to F.I.S.H. and CHR This Summer!
One week will be dedicated to stocking the F.I.S.H. food pantry and create baskets for CHR housing residents! Items will be able to be dropped off at F.I.S.H./ CHR or various businessess partnering in the effort.
3. Community Gatherings - Come & Connect! More info coming soon!
Kick Off Week
Sunday May 31 - Sanibel Farmer's Market 9am-1pm Stop by the Love Sanibel Back table to pick up your button and other LSB swag!
Thursday, June 4 Sunset Happy Hour- Rooftop of Shalimar 7pm-8:30pm
Enjoy wine tasting from Bit of Bailey's, light bites from area restaurants and beverages as you savor the Sanibel sunset from an incredible spot.
Sip, Surprise & Create Event Thursday June 25 9am-11am Macintosh Books + Paper and Home by Rachel Pierce- Heart of the Island Shops- receive a book to read and an exclusive Rachel Pierce designed bookmark to color, coffee bar and pastries too!
Christmas in July at Noah's Ark Thrift shop Tuesday, July 17 10am-1pm, enjoy all the Christmas displays-everything will be for sale, Christmas music and homemade cookies; then continue on throughout the island to do some early Christmas shopping!
Shell Stroll Monday July 13 1-3pm- starting at Bubbly Latitude with various stops to collect painted and natural shells shown on a map, ending at St. Michael's for ice cream, shell painting and prizes
Love Sanibel Community Gathering - Sunday November 1 noon-2:3opm at the Sanibel Recreation Center, enjoy celebrating and connecting with each other with free food, music, activities, prizes and more!
Share your favorite Sanibel sunrise or sunset photo on www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Dates & Themes
Week 1: May 31-June 7
Kick Off Week- Sunrises & Sunsets
Kick Off Events:
Sunday May 31- Stop by the Sanibel Farmer's Market on their last day of the season, as we kick off the first days of Love Sanibel Back 2026. We will have a table at the market and be handing out our 2026 swag and schedules. Enjoy all the marvelous vendors that the Farmer's Market provides and say thank you to these small business owners who provide all the delicious items for our tables and homes.
Thursday, June 4 (raindate Monday June 8) from 7-8:30pm enjoy a Sunset Happy Hour on the rooftop of Shalimar Resort. Wine tasting provided by A Bit of Bailey's, light bites provided by area restaurants and beverages provided. RSVP required due to space capacity, click on the bottom below. Your confirmation email will serve as your entrance to the event.
Share a photo of your favorite spot at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 2 June 8-14
Welcome to Summer
Visit a local spot you love and bring a friend; write a positive review and share it on google, tripadvisor and/or yelp. Local businesses are helped greatly by their patrons who give them reviews. Share a photo of you at your local spot #lovesanibelback
Share a photo of your favorite local menu item at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 3 June 15-21
Eat Local
Enjoy a "local favorite" menu item/treat and share a photo of it with #lovesanibelback. Be sure to leave a positive review on google, tripadvisor and/or yelp.
Invite a neighbor or perhaps an island newcomer to join you at a local business and enjoy some shopping, an attraction or a bite to eat. Share a photo at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 4 June 22-28
Neighbors Connect
Come and connect with your neighbors at Sip, Surprise & Create Thursday June 25 from 9-11am at the Heart of the Island Shops. Macintosh Books + Paper will be giving away 100 "blind date with a book" a book wrapped in brown kraft paper with a brief description on it. Let the book choose you or you choose one, read it and then pass it on at one of our island free libraries. Rachel Pierce will be hosting a coffee/beverage bar and pastries and handing out an exclusive bookmark designed by her that you can color. There will be different designsthroughout the summer at her three stores; Rachel Pierce Art Gallery, Home by Rachel Pierce and Pierce's Paw Paradise.
Share your gratitude for a local worker at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 5 June 29-July 5
Gratitude Week
Write a thank you not to a local worker/employee/business and deliver it.
This is the week to say thank you to our first responders, non profit employees, and the hard working servers, clerks and staff at our local businesses.
Tag your favorite store at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 6 July 6-July 12
Christmas In July Week
Noah's Ark Thrift Shop, on the campus of St. Michael's will have a Christmas in July event on Tuesday, July 7 with many unique Christmas items, music and of course Christmas cookies!
Start your Christmas shopping early and shop local at some of our small businesses.
Share a photo of your litter pick up at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 7 July 13-19
Beach Kindness Week
Pick up at least 10 pieces of litter at one of our local beaches, or bring a friend and collect 20+.
SCCF has a beach walk on Wednesday mornings at Island Inn
Post a picture of you at your favorite wildlife organization
at www.instagram.com/saintmichaelssanibel with the hashtag
#lovesanibelback
Week 8 July 20-26
Wild Mile Week
Learn one wildlife face and support a wildlife organization on the island by visiting them, volunteering and/or donating. Consider C.R.OW., Ding Darling Refuge Society, SCCF, Tarpon Bay Explorers or Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium.
Wild Mile Pass - Explore Sanibel Island's most extraordinary natural attractions with this mobile-exclusive pass, including CROW, the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and much more, Simply check in at each location to earn points and prizes after you sign up.
The Sanibel Recreation Center
will also be a part of Wild Mile Week with several special activities, some free and open to the public that feature wildlife!
Week 9 July 27-August 2
Give Back Week
We wind down the summer by restocking the food pantry at FISH and provide items for residents in CHR housing.
List of items and drop off locations coming soon.
Tag your favorite local spot on your social media platforms with #lovesanibelback and leave positive reviews for them on google, tripadvisor and/or yelp.
Week 10 August 3-9
Celebrate Local Love