Annual Report 2021-22
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society held its official annual meeting yesterday, December 7, by Zoom. Attendees reviewed the Annual Report for the previous fiscal year, a brisk period of generous giving and fundraising up until the day – September 28 – Hurricane Ian closed the Refuge and our Nature Stores. A big thank you to Sarah Ashton who completed her term as board president. We urge those who are able, to make their year-end donations to help “Ding” Darling get back on its feet in the 2022-23 year ahead. Through December 31, all donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar with a generous challenge grant. Thanks, as always, for your kind consideration.
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1+1= 2
DDWS recently received an anonymous $100,000 matching challenge grant from a Bainbridge Island, Washington, family to help raise funds to rebuild the Refuge we love. THANK YOU to those who have responded so generously. We are getting closer to reaching our goal!
Hurricane Ian decimated our beloved islands of Sanibel and Captiva and the refuge sustained major damage as well. From destroyed boardwalks, downed trees, Wildlife Drive damage, a complete loss of intern housing and DDWS offices, roof damage, and so much more, government funding will not cover the full $26 million in damages.
"Ding" is home for the wildlife but also a "home" for each of us. Help this sense of home continue with this year-end match opportunity. The grant will match donations and/or pledges dollar for dollar up to $100,000 made by December 31, 2022. Donate Now to double your impact!
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Hurricane Update
Our Resource page will be consistently updated and we will include a hurricane update each week in our "Ding" on the Wing. Please access sites doing a better job with on-the-ground updates, such as the City of Sanibel. Please call us with any questions at 239-292-0566.
For residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Ian, here is a printable pdf of resources. We are trying to keep it updated and hoping it helps.
Here are a few new links:
- Starting January 1, 2023, toll collection will resume on the Sanibel Causeway.
- Starting January 2, 2023, vehicles will be allowed onto the island without a hurricane pass.
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Tonight: FEMA town hall meeting Thursday, December 8 at 6:00pm at Big Arts (900 Dunlop Rd., Sanibel, FL 33957). You can also view the meeting from Facebook Live.
- The Sanibel Community House received a box truck full of relief aid from St. Petersburg Association of Firefighters Local 747. They have food items such as beans, soup, rice, etc. Hygiene, products, cleaning products, toilet paper, sanitizer, etc. Items are available until they run out.
- Career Source Southwest Florida hosts information for Disaster Relief Employment, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Non-Profits & Government Entities, Employers, and more.
- Sanibel Rec Center is open
- Hurricane Ian is officially the second largest insured loss on record after Hurricane Katrina.
- Cheers to island businesses reopening! Bank of the Islands, Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory, Keller Williams/Ashton Kirchner Group, Traders Restaurant, Cielo and the Captiva Island Store have reopened recently.
- FEMA has drawn and released new flood zone maps.
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Remember, profits from all Nature Store sales go directly to the Refuge for educational programs, wildlife research, and overall conservation efforts. | |
"Ding" Darling Theodore Cross High School Photo Contest
The 10th annual “Ding” Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest has kicked off with a deadline of March 1, 2023. It invites high school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties to compete for prizes that include a Canon digital SLR camera package, a one-year subscription to Adobe photography software, and a one-year family pass to all Florida state parks. The contest’s namesake, Ted Cross lived part-time on Sanibel Island, marched READ MORE
Photo Caption: In 2022, Dani Moser from Cape Coral High took first place with her image "Fly."
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Memorial & Honor Gifts
Donors made these gifts to DDWS in honor and memory of friends and families during November 2022. Thank you to everyone who supported the Refuge in this thoughtful and meaningful way. Make a memorial or honor donation here.
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Spotlight: Friends Rebuilding
As a regular feature, “Ding” on the Wing spotlights a business on the islands that has strongly supported the Refuge in the past and now needs us all to rally behind it as it navigates the long and arduous road to recovery.
Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel Island has been there for “Ding” Darling whenever we need help with catering and auction items. Owner Richard Johnson has served, for many years, as the MC/auctioneer for DDWS fundraisers, always a pro at coaxing guests’ generosity. His daughter, Calli, steps in when we need anything to do with wine, and as an all-around friend.
The Sanibel store underwent severe damage from Hurricane Ian that may take years to overcome. However, the Johnson family’s Island Store on Captiva opened recently. “Since the storm surge was not as high on Captiva, The Island Store received less than one foot of water throughout the store,” Calli reports. “We have some floor repairs to complete, but we were able to clean the silt deposits and reopen, unlike at Bailey’s on Sanibel.”
In 2018, the family took over ownership of the historic general store, which, in the 1940s, was operated by Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling. They opened it in 2020. Last week they celebrated a complimentary Community Gathering & Wine Tasting to support the islands in the wake of the disastrous storm.
Fourth-generation family owner Calli believes “The strength of our community is sourced from residents and visitors living in harmony with nature. As we rebuild, our community will focus on resiliency and sustainability so we can better weather future storms.”
Despite their severe damage and recovery struggles, the family is never hesitant to bolster the community in any way – whether it’s providing a high-speed WiFi hotspot in its parking lot, helping a fellow island grocery store get its doors open, or supporting the chamber of commerce in its efforts. (Calli currently serves as a very active board chair.)
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ADVOCACY IN ACTION
DDWS Goes to Bat for Refuge Disaster Relief
Along with the direct impact of Hurricane Ian on the entirety of Sanibel and Captiva islands, the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge was not spared, suffering more than an estimated $26 million in damages. Government facilities around the country are “self-insured,” which means that when natural disasters such as this occur, Congress supports damages through disaster relief funding appropriations.
The “Ding” team hopes that Congress will support its request for these damages. DDWS has contacted and requested support from Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rick Scott, and Congressman Byron Donalds to provide at least $26 million for the Refuge in the next disaster relief portion of the FY2023 appropriations bill or the next emergency supplemental disaster relief package that is brought before Congress and has zoom meetings scheduled for this week with the staff of Rubio and Donalds.
The Refuge was established in 1945 to protect one of the country's largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems. It is a crown jewel of the national refuge system; it is also a jewel to its surrounding community and one of Florida’s most popular birding destinations, attracting nearly one million visitors annually. The Refuge is an important ecological and economic resource in Southwest Florida and is in dire need of support through these federal funds. Look for future calls to action, should we feel it is necessary to have all our “Ding” Darling friends appeal to their elected officials. Thank you for caring for “Ding” Darling!
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WoW Update: Fall Fest
As part of its visit to James Stephens Elementary in the Tice community December 12-21, WoW (Wildlife on Wheels) will help the school and community celebrate its annual Fall Fest on Wednesday, December 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1333 Marsh Street in Fort Myers.
The STEM-based event features games, crafts, and food in addition to free tours of the WoW mobile nature experience.
While the Refuge is closed to school groups due to hurricane damage, WoW is the most important tool in the “Ding” repertoire for education and community outreach, both crucial to the Refuge mission. It keeps us #DingStrong. WoW currently operates with a reduced team because of the hurricane’s impact on staffing. Now, more than ever, Refuge community outreach needs your help. Donate today to support the upkeep and programming for WoW efforts. Thank you for helping us spread the conservation message.
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Refuge Programming & Events
The Visitor & Education Center and Wildlife Drive remains closed due to hurricane damage until further notice. Consequently, many programs and events have been canceled. Read DOTW for news of activities that are still being planned.
- Refuge staff is structuring a new program to take Mobile Mindfulness to the island workplace and organizations. Starting with a collaboration with Mayor Holly Smith and city employees, mindfulness guides will lead groups along a soothing trajectory to ease the stress of post-storm trauma and related issues. Any group seeking the community benefit of easing minds through connection to place should contact Ranger Toni Westland Toni Westland or Ranger Jess Barry.
- Pop-Up Nature Store at the Coconut Point Farmer’s Markets continues every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by for holiday gifts or just to say hello.
- The annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament remains on the calendar for May 19, 2023. The opening for registration, however, has been postponed until further notice. Thanks to our 2023 sponsors. To become a sponsor, contact April Boehnen.
- The Refuge will judge its annual Cartoon Contest submissions from Patriot Elementary in Cape Coral on December 19. Watch for winning submissions.
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On Friday, December 2, “Ding” Darling celebrated Luminary off-island at Bell Tower with other community organizations, stores, and residents. | Volunteer Nancy Riley staffs the DDWS Pop-up Stand at the Coconut Point Farmer’s Market. | |
Pick a Refuge Wish List Gift
With the holidays upon us, you may want to add the Refuge to your gift list this season. Take a look at our Symbolic Gifts for Wildlife to see how you can benefit those that mean the most to us – the wildlife.
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The date to receive your #DingStrong merch orders by Christmas has passed. However, #DingStrong merch is timeless. Order yours today. | |
Thank you to everyone who has already purchased their #DingStrong merch. If you would like a chance of being showcased with your #DingStrong merch in our "Ding" on the Wing e-newsletter, please send a photo and your name to April Boehnen. | |
Feel-Good Finds
If you have a photo, poem, video, or other feel-good find and you'd like the chance to be highlighted in our "Ding" on the Wing, please email it to April Boehnen .
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A Poem by Meghan Prindle
During the height of COVID, the Daily Dose of Ding gave Meghan a sense of calm and peace she needed. During the chaos of Hurricane Ian, she has been sending her original poems as her way to pay back what she received from "Ding" during a rough time.
Like a Mangrove
My home danced like a Floridian sunrise,
buffeted from the northern cold,
where steady currents and gladiolus gleamed
kindly from their eyes;
now its sunny trade winds blow warm this winter morn
and a Gulf of shining waters 'wakens my sleepy soul.
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Americans are well-known for volunteering their time and other resources for the benefit of causes in which they believe. As a result, all our lives are enriched. Many people also choose to extend their charitable interests in their long-range financial planning. The Last Will and Testament is one of the most popular vehicles for making long-range gifts.
A will is a legal document that protects your assets and helps minimize the chances of a contest over your estate. If you die without one, your estate will be distributed according to a rigid legal formula and not as you may have wished.
“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS), the non-profit friends group supporting the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, is proud to be mentioned in many of our departed benefactors’ Last Wills and Testaments.
It’s quite simple to do.
You may name DDWS in your estate planning as follows: "’Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society, a Florida not-for-profit corporation located on Sanibel Island, Florida.”
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our website to learn more!
Sincerely,
Birgit Miller, Executive Director
"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton. Designed by April Boehnen.
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