On Monday, 8 August, SeaPak Shrimp & Seafood Co. donated USD 10,000 to the United State Lighthouse Society to honor National Lighthouse Day by preserving the Morris Island Lighthouse, a staple for the South Carolina maritime community.
Built in 1767, the Morris Island Lighthouse has stood in some capacity at the Charleston Harbor on the South Carolina coast for nearly 250 years. After being decommissioned in 1962 when a more modern lighthouse was built nearby, local residents spurred a preservation effort, Save the Light, pulling together enough funds to buy the structure in 1999 for USD 75,000. Ever since, the collective has been working to keep the lighthouse around for future enjoyment.
"No one who is alive today has ever known a time when the Morris Island Lighthouse wasn't there at the entrance to Charleston Harbor,” said Al Hitchcock, Chairman of Save the Light. “It is the most-beloved symbol of South Carolina's maritime roots, but without our help, it is a certainty that our children and grandchildren will see it crumble and be lost."
Having a strong coastal heritage, SeaPak was immediately drawn to the effort.
“As a company with a strong coastal heritage, SeaPak has a special fondness for lighthouses and coastal history. And through our quality seafood products, we’ve long been committed to making life ‘more coastal’ for our consumers,” said Megan Grinstead, SeaPak’s Director of Marketing. “When we started searching for ways to support the country’s coastline, it became clear that a partnership with the U.S. Lighthouse Society would be one of the most-meaningful ways we could help preserve America’s coastal history.”
The funds SeaPak has donated will be implemented in an assessment of the lighthouse meant to determine what steps are needed to ensure that the structure can be properly preserved.
“While the 300-year era of manned lighthouses in the U.S. has ended, lighthouses remain a precious symbol of our maritime heritage,” said Jeff Gales, Executive Director of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. “This donation from SeaPak for the Morris Island Lighthouse will go a long way toward preserving an incredible piece of Charleston and American history and furthering education about lighthouses and their role in the story of the United States.”
Keeping with the lighthouse theme, SeaPak has a new line of what it calls “more guilt-free, better-for-you” products, Lighthouse Selections. “Made with certified-sustainable, farm-raised shrimp, Lighthouse Selections are high in lean protein, fresh in flavor, on-trend with seasonings, and void of any preservatives or gluten,” said SeaPak. Select retailers are carrying the products across the United States. The Lighthouse Selections lineup features Creamy Garlic Shrimp, Shrimp & Veggie Grillers, Chili Lime Marinated Shrimp and Salmon Burgers.
