Yes, there’s a lot going on in the world right now, but I can’t let us forget that March 25 is Manatee Appreciation Day. If you follow anything I say or do, you know I appreciate manatees, and can not let this day go by without advocating for my favorite species.
NOAA image/Unsplash
Happily, many of you also appreciate manatees. Some people have actually purchased from the denisebrain Etsy shop simply because they want to support me in giving 10% of my earnings to the Save the Manatee Club.
March is an important time of year for these gentle herbivores, as manatees start moving from warm springs out into their summering areas in the open sea, making them especially vulnerable to boat strikes.
With the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic this year, there is further vulnerability. As the Save the Manatee Club says “When wild manatees become sick, injured, or orphaned, they need to be rescued and provided with around-the-clock care. Save the Manatee Club works together with rescue and rehabilitation partner organizations to help provide care for manatees, like treating injuries or bottle-feeding orphaned calves.” That kind of 24/7 care has become very difficult. Further, stir-crazy people are heading out in their motor boats to get away from home—great for them, not so great for manatees. 20-22% of manatee deaths in Florida waters are caused by boat strikes.
Financial support for manatee care is the imperative message on this Manatee Appreciation Day.
You can donate directly at Save the Manatee Club, or you can purchase any item from the denisebrain Etsy store*, with 10% going to the SMC.
*Exception: The Pink Heart Shop of my Etsy store benefits Dress for Success.
On a very personal note: I’m sure it must be obvious that I am a vintage clothing seller, not the CEO of a major corporation. The money I am able to give to the SMC is not all that much in the grand scheme of things, but it is quite a lot for me. Since 2007, between online fundraisers, personal giving, and, more recently, 10% of sales, I’ve been able to donate $10,816.14 to the Save the Manatee Club. More important than the money is knowing that people have become aware of the plight of manatees from things I’ve shared through the years. It means the world to me that I have been able to crowdsource help for this awe-inspiring species. #giveuntilyousave