Annual Ogeechee Riverkeeper's oyster roast raises funds to protect river basin

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — The Ogeechee Riverkeeper’s Oyster Roast provided music, drinks, a private auction and of course, oysters on Thursday.

Their annual event raised money to help the local river basin in the low country.

While the sun was setting, the oyster fest on the Isle of Hope Marina was just getting started.

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"This is our big annual fundraiser, the oyster roast. Oysters for the Ogeechee. It’s a huge event every year. We put out a buffet and we have fresh steamed oysters and it’s all a fundraiser for Ogeechee Riverkeeper," saidMeaghan Walsh Gerard, the communications and administrative director of the Ogeechee Riverkeeper Non-Profit.

The fundraiser has been a hit for more than 15 years.

"We have about 175. Plus it sells out most every year. This year it sold out earlier than normal," says Executive Director Damon Mullis. Mullis oversees many events for the Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization.

Event organizers say it brings in locals, visitors, and people who used to grow up in the low country.

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"It’s definitely a favorite party (for guests) of the year. You can probably hear we have music going. And there's a lot of people visiting and chatting. Sometimes we get people from out of town who -this is this is sort of a reunion every year," said Walsh Gerard.

All the money from this event will go towards helping the Ogeechee River basin and the Riverkeepers' efforts to ensure the river does not get heavily polluted.

"We work to protect the waters of the Ogeechee Basin. This is one of our annual fundraisers to support our mission staff, pay for the testing, and the water quality monitoring and staff. For everybody to get together and socialize and have a good time," says director Mullis.

More information about the event can be found here.