Member News

Stores host Halloween Headquarters for sustainable options

Fort Myers, FL – As summer wanes and Halloween approaches, it’s time to start planning costumes and decorations. Goodwill has increasingly become a go-to destination for holiday preparations. Their stores are once again transformed into Halloween Headquarters, offering a wide selection of seasonal items.

Cost-conscious parents can find costumes for the entire family at affordable prices. From pop culture icons to traditional spooky attire, the selection is diverse. But, in addition to traditional manufactured costumes, Goodwill is an excellent source for DIY costumes. By piecing together items found on the racks, shoppers can pull together a unique look that will make them standout this season.

“The magic of Halloween shopping at Goodwill is discovering a costume or décor piece that reflects your personality and at a fraction of the cost you’d find elsewhere,” said Director of Merchandising Heather Vaughan. “Each year, we see shoppers come in and leave with something they never expected to find.”,

According to Vaughan, these are the top six reasons to shop Goodwill for Halloween:

• You can find unique costumes that are different from what you might find in a big box store. The quality is usually better and more authentic. 

• You can save money. Most of the big box Halloween store costumes are expensive!

• Get Creative.  You can use your imagination to find pieces and put together a unique costume.  We carry an array of new goods accessories to pair with donated textiles.  

• You can find everything you need to decorate your home.  We have hundreds of donated items that we collect all year and a mix of trending new goods items.

• Help saves the planet.  By buying second hand, you help to keep items from going to the landfill. Reuse and Recycle!

• Helps to support Goodwill’s Mission. You’ll help people get jobs. Your purchases help fund programs and services in your community that help people get jobs and improve their lives.

Ninety-three cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill is reinvested in local programs and services.

When you shop at Goodwill, you’re not just getting a great deal, you’re supporting your community and making a real difference in people’s lives.

Vaughan encourages shoppers to visit early and often to view the best Halloween selections.

“Each day, as items are purchased, fresh items are brought to the sales floor. I’m not exaggerating when I say that thousands of new pieces are placed for sale each day,” she said.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence. For information on how Goodwill SWFL positively impacts the community, visit www.Goodwillswfl.org

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2024) – Beginning tomorrow, Sept. 7, the City of Fort Myers is implementing free on-street parking all day on weekends and an indefinite extension to the free after 5 p.m. weekday on-street parking in downtown Fort Myers.

At the Sept. 3 Fort Myers City Council Meeting, for both on-street and City Hall parking, a motion unanimously passed by councilmembers to indefinitely extend free after 5 p.m. weekdays and enact free parking all day on weekends. On-street parking will remain free all day on holidays. Digital signage on the parking kiosks and mobile applications will inform users that no payment is required after 5 p.m. or on the weekend.

The changes exclude parking garages and will remain in effect unless otherwise determined in the future by City Council.

At the Aug. 5 Fort Myers City Council Meeting, councilmembers voted to temporarily extend the free on-street parking after 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday through Sept. 30, 2024, while the Caloosahatchee Bridge was closed for renovations. Previously, on-street parking was already free all day on Sundays.

During the off-season and year-round, City officials invite residents and visitors to experience downtown Fort Myers and support businesses and special events, as well as encourage downtown business owners and employees to utilize the Royal Palm Lot permitting program to keep on-street parking available for patrons.

The monies generated from paid parking are used to fund the operations and maintenance of the garages, related equipment, on-street parking program, debt repayments, capital improvements, and possible funding towards a new garage. 

To learn more, visit parkftmyers.com or cityftmyers.com/parking.

About the City of Fort Myers
Incorporated in 1886, the City of Fort Myers is committed to providing exceptional municipal services to residents, businesses and visitors in a fiscally responsible manner while preserving the City’s rich history, diverse culture and charming lifestyle. To carry out its mission, the City of Fort Myers strives to provide economic opportunity, personal growth and a high quality of life surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, while fostering an atmosphere where citizens and businesses can thrive. To learn more and get involved, visit www.cityftmyers.com.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County has announced its fourth Annual Golf Tournament will be held Oct. 3 at The Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers.

The tournament includes 18 holes of championship golf along with on-course activities and challenges, raffle prizes and dinner. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will assist with a closest-to-the-pin helicopter ball drop as part of the fundraising activities.

A new venue for the annual tournament, The Club at Renaissance is a picturesque, Arthur Hills-designed 18-hole golf course featuring rolling fairways, lakeside vistas and stunning wildlife. In 2023, the event raised $50,000 to enhance Boys & Girls Clubs’ After-school Program and Summer Enrichment Camp. Both programs serve Lee County youth ages six through 18 and focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation.

“The money we raise at the golf tournament helps clubs offer high-quality, transformational programming to children and teens in Lee County,” said Denise Gergley, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. “We know our programs are successful, and fundraising is a critical component of our ability to expand these programs and give opportunities to additional youth to reach their full potential.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County offers multiple player packages and sponsorship opportunities.

PLAYER PACKAGES

Drive Package ($1,000): player registration fee for four golfers, four mulligans, three raffle tickets per player and a company logo on a hole flag.
Pro Package ($800): player registration fee for four golfers, four mulligans and three raffle tickets per player.
Team Package ($700): player registration fee for four golfers.
Additionally, Boys & Girls Clubs is offering a Pro Package for $50 that includes one mulligan and three raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are $20 each or $100 for seven tickets.

Early sponsors include LMCU and Charles Schwab as Title Sponsors. Additional Sponsors include Lee Health (Golf Course Sponsor), Suncoast Contractor Supply (Lunch Sponsor), Wayne Wiles (Hat & Water Bottle Sponsor), Pacific Peak (Ball Sponsor), Suncoast Credit Union (Eagle Sponsor), Sherwin Williams (Chipping/Putting Sponsor), JJ Taylor (Beverage Cart Sponsor), and Memorial Gardens, Coke Florida and Sharetea (Birdie Sponsors).

The Annual Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, Oct. 3 at The Club at Renaissance, 12801 Renaissance Way in Fort Myers. Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m. and the shotgun start is at 1:30 p.m. For more information about player packages and sponsorships, please visit BGClee.org/events/2024-golf-tournament.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

Established in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County serve children and teens through school-based, neighborhood and community club locations. The nonprofit’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. After-school and summer programs focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation. For more information, please visit BGClee.org or call 239-334-1886.

Keegan Myers has been hired by Lee Health Foundation as marketing communications coordinator to support the foundation’s marketing objectives with a focus on content creation, public relations, social media management, media relations, website management and email marketing.

Myers has served as social media coordinator for Lee Health since September 2022, where she increased follower engagement across Lee Health and Golisano Children’s Hospital’s social media platforms, enhancing public awareness of Lee Health’s services and fostering connections through impactful stories and information.
Myers holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of South Florida (2021) and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University (2023).

For additional information about the role of philanthropy at Lee Health or how you can make a difference for healthcare in your community, visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call 239-343-6950.

About Lee Health Foundation
Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic dollars on behalf of Lee Health to establish, expand and enhance innovative, lifesaving and preventative programs. The Foundation provides financial support for all five Lee Health hospitals including Golisano Children’s Hospital as well as many service areas including Lee Health Cancer Institute, Lee Health Coconut Point, The Rehabilitation Hospital, Lee Health Heart Institute, Community Health Clinics and Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples. Over the last year, the Foundation has distributed more than $27 million to support Lee Health’s mission. Please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call 239-343-6950 for more information about the role of Lee Health philanthropy in Southwest Florida.

September 6, 2024 – Punta Gorda, FLA – The James and Barbara Moore Observatory, located on the Florida SouthWestern College (FSW) Charlotte Campus in Punta Gorda, will open for its 2024-25 public viewing sessions in September.

Public viewings will be held on the fourth Friday of each month. These events are open to the public, no reservation required. The viewing will begin 30 minutes after sunset and will conclude between 10-11 p.m., weather permitting. The FSW Charlotte Campus is located at 26300 Airport Road, Punta Gorda.

Schedule of Observatory Viewing Sessions for 2024-25:

Sept.27, 2024

Oct. 25, 2024

Nov. 22, 2024

Dec. 27, 2024

Jan. 24, 2025

Feb. 28, 2025

Mar.28, 2025

Apr. 25, 2025

May 23, 2025

Additional observation sessions may be scheduled or changed depending on celestial events.

For more information or for a full schedule of observatory events, call (941) 637-3518 or (941) 637-5652, or visit https://www.fsw.edu/charlotte/observatory.