The Covid-19 Effect
The program, like most of the world, stopped for a period of time because of the covid-19 pandemic. The foundation ceased operations in the spring when restaurants were forced to suspend dine-in services. Nevertheless, Leija said that the pause didn’t slow the foundation down too much since it was able to add new restaurant partners. Last year, the foundation recycled 114 tons of shells.
Although the pandemic didn’t impact the foundation’s shell collection, it did affect a bright spot on its calendar: Its inaugural Houston Oyster Festival. The festival, the proceeds of which went to the oyster shell recycling program, was scheduled for April of last year and was supposed to mark program’s expansion to restaurants in nearby Houston.
Leija said canceling it was a huge disappointment, but for the best given the toll of the pandemic. Nonetheless, she said the foundation hoped to do some smaller oyster fundraising events this year while following covid-19 safety protocols. And longer term, the foundation is hoping that it can re-launch the Houston Oyster Festival and expansion in 2022, pending pandemic conditions.
