Establishing an environmentally friendly home improvement materials thrift store had been a long-time vision for Carolyn Moore, Executive Director of Island Coast AIDS Network, Inc. (ICAN). When the agency suffered a massive budget cut through the Medicaid program in 2002, plans were put in motion to establish the thrift store as steady source of independent revenue for the 501 (c) 3 agency which has been serving the social service needs of HIV/AIDS infected individuals since 1987. 

An ad hoc committee chaired by Dan Lubner, VP of Marketing for Robb & Stucky, scouted potential store locations, but it was a tiny ad in the newspaper that led the team to a 5,300 square foot space in North Ft. Myers’ United Plaza. Moore recaps, “I met with Don Wolf, owner of the United Plaza, and he thought we had a fabulous idea, and since we are a charitable agency, he worked generously with ICAN on the lease.”

Innovative to Southwest Florida, ICANstruction Junction opened its doors on May 1, 2004 with four goals in mind:

1.      To generate necessary funding to support the client programs, education and prevention services provided by Island Coast AIDS Network, Inc. (ICAN).

2.      To promote the “green way” through reuse and thereby keeping goods and materials out of the waste stream and reducing the strain on our valuable resources.

3.      To provide business owners and individuals a free, tax-deductible option for removing unwanted, surplus inventory and supplies.

4.      To offer an affordable supply of quality goods to individuals and organizations who might otherwise be unable to obtain them.

Since the purchase of ICANstruction Junction’s new truck in 2006, acquired with the help of generous contributions from The Office Pub, Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Southwest Florida Chapter of National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, donations have greatly increased. Hundreds of donations are picked-up or dropped off monthly, resulting in constantly changing inventory, good deals and interesting finds for bargain shoppers and do-it-yourselfers.

Through escalating word-of-mouth and the loyal support of organizations such as the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association (CCCIA), ICANstruction’s sales and donations continue to rise. During the Summer of 2007, Southwest Florida Community Foundation granted ICANstruction Junction $13,500 to purchase a Komatsu Industrial Lift enabling employees to safely move large donations directly from the truck into the store. To compliment the industrial life, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awarded ICANstruction Junction $10,000 to purchase heavy-duty steel shelving making it possible for the store to accept more donations and offer additional merchandise to shoppers.

The thrift store proves to be a vital source of revenue for ICAN which helps the agency carryout it mission “to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and assist individuals infected and affected in Southwest Florida.” For more information about ICAN visit www.icanswfl.org.

ICANstruction Junction continues to seek partnerships with builders, contractors, realtors, interior designers, manufacturers, businesses and individuals. Donating to and shopping at ICANstruction Junction is a win-win-win situation for the donor, environment and community.

 So, hurry on down to the “Junction”… It’s a Good Deed, Good Deal!