They shucked and pulled and yanked and chomped. They ate their oysters without a prompt.
They slathered them in butter and Texas Pete. No other oysters could compete.
They feasted and feted without a care. Oysters, oysters, everywhere.
More than 1,300 partygoers blazed through thousands of oysters at the Cape Henry Rotary Club’s 32nd annual Oyster Crush Festival on Sunday afternoon at The Yacht Club at Marina Shores.
Many of the nonprofits set up booths inside the marina where people could get more information about where their money was going.
Karlaa Williams manned the one for Seton Youth Shelters to tell passers-by how the nonprofit mentors children and gives runaways a safe place to stay when they’re in crisis.
Through Oyster Crush, Cape Henry Rotary has been giving Seton money for 20 years, said Kathy Jeffries, Seton’s development and community outreach director. Last year, it got $3,000 from the festival.
“It makes a difference,” Jeffries said. “It makes a big difference.”
But it’s not just about the money, she said. The festival itself gives Jeffries and her crew a chance to tell people about Seton and, perhaps, convince them they should volunteer.
Carrie Weiler, director of the nonprofit’s mentoring program, said Seton has a wait list of 28 children who want mentors.
“If we can match four or five mentors with kids today, that is a wonderful success for a one-day outreach,” Jeffries said.
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