Unshellfish: Lloyd Center clambake celebrates community amid covid
Lloyd Center Executive Director Rachel Stronach and board member Sally Johnston. Photos courtesy: Lloyd Center
The guitar, owned by Tears for Fears co-founder Roland Orzabal, sold for over $15,000 at the online silent auction.
Education/Outreach Director Liz Moniz at the event.
Original Clambake XXXV artwork by Sandy Hall was also up for sale at auction.
Clambake Committee Chair Nina weeks and her son, dressed as a lobster.
Lloyd Center Executive Director Rachel Stronach and board member Sally Johnston. Photos courtesy: Lloyd Center
The guitar, owned by Tears for Fears co-founder Roland Orzabal, sold for over $15,000 at the online silent auction.
Education/Outreach Director Liz Moniz at the event.
Original Clambake XXXV artwork by Sandy Hall was also up for sale at auction.
Clambake Committee Chair Nina weeks and her son, dressed as a lobster.
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Last year, the Lloyd Center for the Environment held its annual clambake fundraiser despite downpours and rainbows.
This year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Potomska Road non-profit held its clambake to go and an online silent auction — and the new format did little to dampen spirits.
Lloyd Center Executive Director Rachel Stronach said that the event went “really well” despite the social distancing.
“We were overwhelmed with the support that we got from the community,” she said.
Guests bought tickets for food — either a traditional clam boil from the Greasy Luck pub in New Bedford or a lobster roll from the Back Eddy in Westport — and swung by to pick it up on July 10.
“People were happy as they were driving up,” Stronach noted. “It was nice to be able to see people, and we got a lot of great feedback at the meals.”
Although they don’t have the final numbers for funds raised yet, she added, “It looks really good.”
According to Stronach, the silent auction alone earned the center almost $25,000, with people bidding “even up to the last minute” online.
The top item was a Gibson 335 guitar belonging to Tears for Fears star Roland Orzabal, to be personally signed for the highest bidder and sent over from England.
It went for $15,581.
“Obviously this is a difficult time for a lot of people and non-profits,” Stronach said. “To have such a positive event and a high amount of participation, it was really great!”
The Lloyd Center is an environmental organization that seeks to instill respect and affection for nature in people of all ages through research and education.
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