North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island receives donation from The Cottage Shop to support sea turtle care and rehabilitation

Published 11:10 am Thursday, June 5, 2025

: The Cottage Shop/Kellogg Supply presented a $1,600 check to the STAR Center at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Shown, from left, are Larry Warner, N.C. Aquarium director, with Becca Reeves and Amy Smith from Kellogg Supply/The Cottage Shop. Courtesy N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke Island

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Donation marks sixth year The Cottage Shop has raised funds from Skip-the-Bag program

The Cottage Shop/Kellogg Supply presented a check for $1,600 to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island for its Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (S.T.A.R.) Center to support sea turtle care. For the sixth year, The Cottage Shop has raised donations for the S.T.A.R. Center exclusively by setting aside 10 cents for each Cottage Shop customer who chooses to “skip-the-bag” on their purchases. Additional funds are raised when customers offer to contribute more to the popular program.

“The Cottage Shop’s reduction of single-use plastic by promoting the Skip-the-Bag program is reflective of the Aquarium’s mission to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments,” stated a news release from NCARI. “A discarded plastic bag floating in the water looks like a jellyfish, a food source for sea turtles. Because sea turtles cannot tell the difference between a plastic bag and a jellyfish, they often ingest plastic bags, which leads to dire health consequences.”

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The check was accepted by Larry Warner, director of the aquarium, who said, “It’s heartwarming to know that The Cottage Shop is committed to sea turtle care and rehabilitation. It brings a smile to my face each year they present us with funds raised from this conservation effort. Sea turtle rehabilitation and release takes a great deal of time and dedication from the team at the Aquarium. Their important work is made possible by every cent donated by Cottage Shop customers.”

The 3,000-square-foot S.T.A.R. Center, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, provides year-round medical care and rehabilitation assistance to sea turtles, mostly loggerhead, Kemps ridley and greens. During the winter of 2024-25, the aquarium provided care to a nearly 800 cold-stunned sea turtles, breaking previous records for the season. Founded in 1976, the aquarium is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The aquarium is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, go to ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island.

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