12 Days of Christmas: Donations to environmental nonprofits lagged; here's how to help now

Ed Killer, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·3 min read

Treasure Coast residents and visitors were not as generous as usual to nonprofit organizations featured in TCPalm's annual 12 Days of Christmas series, which ran daily from Dec. 25 through Jan. 6.

The articles highlighted the "wish list" needs of nonprofits whose mission is to keep our waterways clean, fight Lake Okeechobee discharges and protect marine plants and animals such as seagrasses and the manatees that rely on them for food. The nonprofits asked for donations or equipment to continue their work — ranging from oyster mats to outboard motors to hurricane damage repairs.

Unlike in previous years, no organization had their holiday wish completely fulfilled. Nine organizations received some donations. Three received nothing.

But it's not too late to help the organizations, which welcome donations year-round.

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Manatee Observation and Education Center researchers evaluate oyster growth in Fort Pierce .
Manatee Observation and Education Center researchers evaluate oyster growth in Fort Pierce .

WISH NOT FULFILLED

Indian RiverKeeper, Stuart

Ocean Research & Conservation Alliance, Vero Beach

St. Lucie County Reef Builders, Fort Pierce

WISH ONLY PARTIALLY FULFILLED

Pelican Island Audubon Society, Vero Beach

Florida Oceanographic Society, Stuart

  • Initial request: $7,500 to repair hurricane damage to observation deck; Improve habitat grow-out facilities

  • Funding received: $1,500

  • Contact Abigail Flood at aflood@floridaocean.org or 772-225-0505 ext. 108

  • Website: Floridaocean.org

Smithsonian Marine Center, Fort Pierce

  • Initial request: $1,600 for eight digital touch screens

  • Funding received: $200 plus pledges for $400 more

  • Contact: Bill Hoffman at hoffman@si.edu or 772-465-3273

  • Website: Stlucieco.gov/aquarium

Coastal Conservation Association, Vero Beach

Friends of the Everglades, Stuart

Environmental Learning Center, Wabasso

  • Initial request: $20,000 for new 150-hp outboard motor

  • Funding received: $650

  • Contact: Sue Harr at Sue@DiscoverELC.org or 772-589-5050

  • Website: DiscoverELC.org

Manatee Observation & Education Center, Fort Pierce

  • Initial request: $15,000 for "Shuck the Muck" campaign

  • Funding received: $11,990

  • Contact: Jessica Kadie Barclay, at donate@manateeeducationcenter.org or go to Gofundme.com

  • Website: Manateeeducationcenter.org

Environmental Studies Center, Jensen Beach

Dolphin & Ecology Project, Stuart

  • Initial request: $5,000 for boat storage, fuel, camera equipment

  • Funding received: $1,000

  • Contact: Nic Mader at dolphinmader@gmail.com

  • Website: No website

Ed Killer covers the environment, the Indian River Lagoon, fishing and more for TCPalm. Email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 12 Days of Christmas: Donations to environmental nonprofits lagged