Branded items available for all ages
Big Waters Land Trust, formerly the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, has launched its first webstore, the nonprofit announced this week.
“Featuring a variety of branded items for all ages,” the webstore will enable supporters to “directly support Big Waters’ mission to protect the land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature” through their purchases, a news release points out.
“For years our conservation community has asked to purchase branded merchandise like T-shirts and hats to showcase their support,” said Christine P. Johnson, president of Big Waters Land Trust, in the release. “With our new online store, they can now shop with purpose knowing their purchases will further our mission and save more land here in Southwest Florida,” she added.
To date, Big Waters has protected more than 20,000 acres across 60 different properties, the release points out. The service area of the region’s only accredited land trust includes Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Hardee, DeSoto and Highlands counties, the release notes. It also encompasses three national estuaries — Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor — “and four significant rivers” — the Manatee, Myakka, Peace, and Caloosahatchee.
In December, 2024 the not-for-profit concluded its 20th anniversary year with a surprise name change at its Annual Conservation Celebration, after its leaders recognized “they needed a name more reflective of their whole service area — both the coastal and inland communities,” the release explains. With the organization rechristened Big Waters Land Trust, they “remain deeply committed to their vision for a future in which the human and natural world flourish together,” the release adds.
“As a special introductory promotional offer, every store purchase made during the month of February” will result in one entry into a drawing for an exclusive, on-the-land outing with Big Waters’ community education manager, Sarah Denison Williams, the release points out. “The drawing will take place Wednesday, March 5, with the winner announced on Big Waters’ Facebook page.
“Visit bigwaterslandtrust.org to explore the new store and start shopping today!” the release encourages the public.