Clearwater Marine Aquarium Seeking Donations To Help Animals
This story just breaks my heart. Clearwater Marine Aquarium seeking donations to help animals after Hurricane Helene. We all love animals here at QYK and to see these stories is hard. There is a great community here in the Tampa Bay area and I know there are people who can help them as they repair the damage from the recent hurricanes.
I found this story on Tampa Bays 10 how they are seeking donations to help the animals that they care for at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The Aquarium is open and the majority of the damage is concealed from the guests, but in the areas where the animals are cared for, behind the scenes, is where the storm’s impact is still very apparent. It’s important that these animals and the people who care for them have safe working environments and clean work spaces. I’m sure a lot of the employees at CMA had damage to their own homes, but know that the animals are counting on them, so they had to tend to CMA first.
So many of us were impacted by the hurricane. I lost my home due to flooding. I wouldn’t have been able to get through the last few weeks without the help of others. That’s why I’m posting this story. Hoping there is someone out there who can help these animals and these amazing people who care for them.
Like many homes, there was about 4 feet of water inside CMA, so the drywall had to be ripped out as well. Then, two weeks later, they had more damage due to Hurricane Milton. Some of the staff members stayed at CMA during the storms to make sure that the animals were ok, even though they knew it would probably flood. They are good people that work there and are constantly helping animals that need assistance in our community. I don’t know how many times we hear about an injured turtle or dolphin on the beach, and who is first on scene? Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff. Let’s remember that. It’s hard to ask for help sometimes, but they need help now.
The non-profit aquarium estimates that hurricanes caused more than $2.5 million in damage.
VP of Zoological Care Kelly Martin said, “We’re a small not-for-profit so it’s difficult to recover all the things we’ve worked for years to get to.” She also added that there are several costly repairs to crucial infrastructure that are needed before the aquarium can welcome back its manatees and sea turtles. They need donations for life support systems; the pumps, the filters to keep the animals alive.
They have raised about $170,000 through donations so far, but they still have a long way to go. If you can help them in any way.
To learn more about the fundraiser, click here.
To learn more about the wish list, click here.
