Oysters are pretty cool creatures. They live most of their lives in a shell at the bottom of rivers or bays - except for those that get eaten! Oysters are actually very important because they help clean the water they live in. Oysters eat by sucking water through their bodies, pulling out the nutrients they need to grow. Oysters remove the bad stuff that pollutes the water and end clean water back into the water. Hundreds of years ago, there were so many oysters in the Chesapeake Bay that the entire bay was cleaned every few days. Now it takes more than a year.

The Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) assists Mother Nature  by rebuilding the network of wild oyster reefs with recyled shells. If you and family and friends eat oysters, you can help by recycling your shells. Learn how here. 

Be sure to bring your children (and yourself) to learn more about the ORP's efforts on April 13, 2013 from 10am-noon. ORP will be bringing its "Little Nipper" display to K&B TrueValue so your child can"tong" for oysters and learn more about this valuable Bay resource.

Weber Grill Raffle for ORP-Also be sure to buy a raffle ticket at the cash register for a chance to win a $699 grill and help a worthy cause.