Florida,  Giveaways,  Marriage Confessions

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Clean Up Fundraiser!

July 16, 2010 /

Many of you know that I grew up on the Gulf Coast on a peninsula just off the coast of Pensacola, Florida called Gulf Breeze.

Gulf Breeze was a beautiful place for Chris and I to grow up.  We spent summers in his granddad’s boat, getting sun, wakeboarding, tubing, jetskiing, and making out when no one was looking.  Not a bad way to live, huh?

When the oil first began to leak into the Gulf, my heart broke.  No one knew yet which shores it would impact, but just the thought of black tar floating out on the water that I played on was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

On June 3, the oil washed onto the sand of Pensacola Beach.  I know this because on Facebook that day, just about everyone from my hometown had the same ominous status, “It’s here.”

All beach photos are courtesy of my favorite Pensacola photographer, Greg Reigler.

Seeing the oil on the beach brought tears to my eyes.  Every time we turned on the news, people were broadcasting from our beaches.  And you never want to see that.  Reporters hardly ever come when something is good.

And while it was devastating to see the shoreline so damaged, what we would slowly realize is that the greater impact was on the economy of Pensacola and other Gulf Coast towns who made their primary income in two ways:  fishing and tourism.

Restaurant and bar owners were laying off wait staff because there was no one in their restaurants.  Tourist souvenir shops that lined the Pensacola Beach boardwalk were struggling to keep their doors open during what should have been their peak season.  Fishing and charter boat captains had nothing to fish and no one to take out into the Gulf and so they instead began to work for BP, using their boats to clean up the oil that was looming just off the beach.  Homeowners saw property values fall even more than they have during the recession.  Everyone who lived in Pensacola and Gulf Breeze became impacted in some way.

And while we all prayed and came together to volunteer to help clean up the beaches, nothing seemed to really matter because the oil still flowed.

But today, all that has changed because they finally capped the leak.  And, while many Gulf Coast residents are cautiously optimistic, the hope of one day having our sandy white beaches back has returned.  And hope is really what cleans up after disasters, I think.

I haven’t blogged about this even though it has constantly been on my mind and any conversation I have with people from back home has revolved around the subject.  It was just too sad to talk about.  And I don’t like to talk about a lot of current events on this blog because usually they are just hotbeds for arguments.  But this seems different to me today.

My concern today is that because the leak has been stopped (whether temporarily or permanently), the oil spill will become old news.  A problem our country had that has now been resolved.  But the truth is that for those people living on the Gulf Coast, this tragedy will continue to be a current event for years to come.

So today, as everyone celebrates the stopping of the oil leak, I’d like to remind people that the real work has not ended – it has just started.  Now, we have to continue to work to clean up our beaches, to save the wildlife, and to restore the economy back to the coastline where I grew up.

And that restoration starts with YOU AND ME.

Today on Marriage Confessions, I am asking for your help.  I average about 2,000 readers a day on this blog.  Imagine if every reader gave just $10 to the clean up efforts on the Gulf Coast.  That would be $20,000 and that’s a lot of clean up.  I realize that most of you aren’t from the Gulf Coast.  Most of you won’t be directly impacted by the oil spill.  But we all know what a recession feels like.  In some form or another, we all know what an impact on our livelihood feels like.  And I’m asking each of you to think about that feeling and what it has meant for you and your families.  A lot of us don’t have extra money to spend right now on causes other than getting food on our own kitchen tables – believe me, I understand that more than you know. But $10 is not a lot and it could do so much to help an entire region of our country.  Not to mention the good it would do for our environment and the poor animals and sea life whose homes have become oil pools.

Today through this weekend, I will be collecting money into the Marriage Confessions Paypal account and next week I will make a donation of all your contributions on behalf of Marriage Confessions to the National Wildlife Federation who are leading the way in restoring the Gulf Coast.  This donation will go specifically to clean up efforts on the Gulf Coast in response to the oil spill.  To donate through Marriage Confessions, please click the DONATE button below. (If you’d prefer to donate directly to the organization, you can do so by CLICKING HERE, though if you donate that way I have no way of tracking how much money we were able to donate as a group.)

(UPDATE: The Marriage Confessions Fundraiser has closed and I am no longer accepting donations directly.  But please continue to give directly to the NWF through their website.  Thanks!)

Thanks in advance for all of your support.  There is nothing kinder than giving to people that you don’t know and I am so grateful for your kindness.  Remember in the next months to keep the Gulf Coast in your thoughts and prayers.  The news story might be over, but the recovery is just beginning.

*********

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Holly Clegg Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook on Facebook!  The winner is Amanda!  Amanda – contact me at katie@marriageconfessions.com to claim your prize.

Thanks to Lee Jackson (who is a brand new mommy!!) and Holly Clegg for sponsoring this giveaway!


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30 Comments

  • Nikki

    July 16, 2010 at 8:53 am Reply

    Even though I live in Texas (which unfortunately has now been affected by the oil spill) this disaster hits home with me. My Grandparents live in a small fishing town not too far from Pensacola. The impact it has had on them is astounding. My foundest memories of visiting them was getting to go to Destin and play on the beautiful beaches. I hope that everyone remembers that every little bit goes a long way, and together we can make a positive impact for people who have been affected!

  • Alaina

    July 16, 2010 at 8:59 am Reply

    I grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and one of our favorite vacation spots when I was a kid was visiting Gulf Shores, AL. I will definitely donate to the cause. I was so happy to see they capped the leak this morning, but now they need to clean up the huge mess that the leak has caused. That, and ensure that this just doesn’t happen again because it’s too devastating.

  • Bronwen

    July 16, 2010 at 9:10 am Reply

    I had some money in my paypal account,and this is more useful than spending it on knitting patterns! I hope this is very successful. If you need some inspiration, check out the yarnharlot.ca and her campaign for Knitters Without Borders!

  • Sarah H.

    July 16, 2010 at 10:11 am Reply

    Great idea Katie! I went to spring break in Destin, FL in 2004 with several other of your lovely readers. So my donation is for all the future spring breakers 🙂

  • Rosemary

    July 16, 2010 at 10:19 am Reply

    What a wonderful thing to do. I love your blog for so many reasons-now you have added another. Donation is done! This truly effects all of us (I live in NY State)- the devastation of lives both wild and human is unacceptable. I certainly hope that BP is held accountable as they say they will be. Hugs to the Bean too.
    Ro

  • Darcy

    July 16, 2010 at 11:03 am Reply

    Fabulous idea – sent my money over!

    I love the gulf so much – and Gulf Breeze is like this secret little oasis that few tourists know about. I grew up in Pensacola so I have a strong love of the area even though I’m currently in DC. I also have plans to celebrate a friends bachelorette party in Destin this upcoming April so I’m hoping my money helps in small part to making sure that party still happens.

    Thanks for doing this, Katie!

  • Tressa

    July 16, 2010 at 11:25 am Reply

    I will gladly donate $10.00

    Thanks for this post. It opened my eyes to things I never even thought about. The effect on the business’. The clean up etc. I live in Kansas, so here in the boondocks, I’m stupid to that sort of thing 😉

  • Katie

    July 16, 2010 at 12:30 pm Reply

    Thanks so much for posting this. I live in Mobile, AL, and you’re right: it is heartbreaking to think about how our region will be devastated for decades. Hey, if you want to have a MC reader clean-up day, I’d be all over it!

  • Imogene

    July 16, 2010 at 12:59 pm Reply

    The well may be capped but there are some reporters who will not forget- one is Anderson Cooper who reports for CNN. He is back in Haiti reporting on the continuing dismal plight of the people there, even with tons of food, medical supplies etc. in warehouses. It seems the big NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) have failed in the final link – getting needed stuff to those who most need it.

    I pray that the Nat’l Wildlife Federation will follow through to the end on the Gulf coast! Happy to donate……

  • Eva

    July 16, 2010 at 2:56 pm Reply

    I live in California and I visit the Central Coast beaches often. The other day I was there and as I looked out into the waters, I started thinking of the Gulf Coasts and how many people have to stay away from them because of this horrible disaster. I said a prayer for all of them and continue to do so. I agree with you Katie, if the stop of the leak if successful, it is going to take all the media attention from that area but the devastation will continue to be there. The people living in the area will live with the aftermath from this disaster. From the West coast to the Gulf coast with love, praying for you all.

  • Bhuvana

    July 16, 2010 at 3:07 pm Reply

    I love your blog and have gladly donated! I am a big supporter of the National Wildlife Federation so it’s great to hear that you’ll be giving them (hopefully) a big fat donation from your readers.

  • Rebecca @ Piggy Bank Dating

    July 16, 2010 at 5:41 pm Reply

    Katie, thanks for supporting the Gulf Coast! I live in Mobile, AL, and hate seeing my neighbors being interviewed on the news daily. Their businesses are suffering, some are feeling hopeless, and others are doing everything in their power to combat the devastation. I was happy to donate! Thank you! Rebecca

  • Candice

    July 16, 2010 at 8:36 pm Reply

    $10, done. I really hope you can get $20k together – or even $10k. Or $5k. Anything would be amazing. I think it’s great of you to do this. I live in the Northeast so we’re not worried about it hitting our beaches, but that doesn’t matter in our hearts – we’re just as sad about it.

  • Kris

    July 16, 2010 at 9:45 pm Reply

    Katie, what a great idea. I live a long ways from the gulf coast (or any coast of that matter), but hate seeing the images on the news, and in the pictures you shared. I think you’re right that if the cap holds, the nations awareness will cease right when the major battle of clean-up begins. My heart goes out to all those whose make a living from or on the sea. You have my donation, and I hope many more.

  • Jenn

    July 16, 2010 at 10:23 pm Reply

    I really love your blog, but I have to disagree with you here.

    BP caused this mess. They knew something wasn’t right with their valves/shutoffs and they continued to use them. This whole oily, horrible, disgusting environmental disaster is all BP’s fault. The same BP that I have to go down and pay $3.09 a gallon for gas to drive my kids places. The same BP that makes millions and billions of dollars every year. I don’t think we should be paying money to clean it up. BP should be fully funding all of the costs for any non-profit that is helping clean up the mess. Not us, and not our non-profits.

    I’ll donate $10 to habitat to humanity, to be in the spirit of giving. I hate seeing our country’s wildlife and beaches destroyed, but I think whomever is clearly responsible for it, is responsible for the entire cost.

    • Liss

      July 17, 2010 at 2:55 am Reply

      I think everyone would agree that BP SHOULD cover the entire cost of the incredible damage that they’ve caused.
      Whether they actually WILL, though, is highly unlikely. It would be a wonderful world if the people responsible for things were the people who TOOK responsibility, but disgustingly, that’s not the world we live in.

      I’m donating $5, because that’s absolutely all I can afford, but I would give more if I could. I won’t cross my arms and wait for BP to step up because ‘I shouldn’t be paying for their mistake.’ I shouldn’t be paying, but I am. I care more about doing any little bit I can to help clean up the mess than I do about pointing fingers.

    • Nikki

      July 17, 2010 at 3:58 pm Reply

      Where are all of the alternatives? I’m pretty sure you’re not riding a bike around town, and a Prius can only do so much. I like that certain companies are trying to kick the oil, but right now there’s not much of a choice. So, I’ll drive around in my 25mpg car until someone comes up with safe and affordable alternatives.

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