Rolling Restoration - ORE needs a Truck

With $20,000 in matching funds from the Manatee Matches Giving Circle we aim to raise $61,000 to purchase a dependable heavy duty truck that will put our restoration efforts into high gear.

Rolling Restoration - ORE needs a Truck image

Project Title:

Rolling Restoration:

Estimated Cost of Truck:
$61,000

Project Summary:
Oyster River Ecology (ORE) is a mission-driven nonprofit restoring coastal habitats in Manatee County through hands-on community projects. We are currently leading a 10-acre oyster reef restoration effort in the Manatee River, using an innovative, cost-effective technique we developed called Oyster Rag Pots (ORPs). These modular reef-building units allow us to restore habitat efficiently and at scale, using community volunteers, but the work requires a capable truck.

This work is ambitious and logistics-intensive. At present, we haul heavy reef-building materials, large trailers, and boats using a borrowed light-duty truck that is not rated for some of the loads we need to carry. This limits our ability to safely and effectively execute large-scale restoration, places strain on the borrowed truck and slows progress on key projects.

The Need:
To meet the growing demands of our restoration work, especially the Manatee River project, we need a dedicated ¾-ton truck. This vehicle will provide the hauling power necessary to transport Oyster Rag Pots, mobilize volunteers, and support large field operations without compromising safety or efficiency. The estimated cost is $61,000, and we’re confident that matching funds from the Manatee Matches Giving Circle will help us raise the remaining balance to complete this essential purchase.

Why This Matters:
A reliable truck will:

  • Ensure safe transport of ORP building materials, boats, plants, and all of other things we haul.
  • Remove a major operational bottleneck
  • Support large-scale volunteer and educational field days
  • Expand our capacity to respond quickly and efficiently across project sites

Your Impact:
With $20,000 in dedicated match from Manatee Matches Giving Circle, your donation will directly accelerate on-the-ground ecological restoration. With this truck, we can build more reefs, stabilize more shorelines, and engage more people, especially youth. Our volunteer programs bring students into the field, where they gain hands-on experience and a lasting sense of environmental stewardship.

Together, we can restore critical habitat, strengthen our coastal resilience, and inspire the next generation to protect the natural resources that define our area

Please see the presentation slides at this link for more information.