EVERY VOTE MATTERS: Plastic Ocean Project needs your vote for the Defender Service Awards

Plastic Ocean Project is a finalist in the Defender Service Awards—and they need YOUR support. encore sent over some question interim executive director Tricia Monteleone to get the skinny on why this prize (and your help) matters right now.

Voting opens October 3 and ends October 19: You can cast your vote for Plastic Ocean Project needs your vote to win a Land Rover Defender. Click on “Vote Now” to watch the finalists’ videos and cast up to one vote per day, per category, for the organization you feel deserves to win.

encore (e): This is a huge prize! A new Defender 130 and $30,000—what does each mean for POP's work and achieving your goals? (I'm guessing y'all are doing more than figure8s in the parking lot with this thing!)

Tricia Monteleone (TM): Figure 8's sound great to me! [laughs]

A new Defender will be a game changer for us, we will be able to get to harder to reach places to collect trash and plant trees. We will have the ability to move our trailer with supplies or trees wherever we need to. Our staff and volunteers won't have to use their vehicles any more to haul trash, which can be very unpleasant, and they won't have the wear and tear on their personal vehicles. As for the $30,000 this will help us in innumerable ways. From keeping the lights on to purchasing trees and supplies to keep our programs and research running. We are moving soon and the cost of just moving our microscopic FTIR, a very sensitive instrument for our research, let alone maintain the instrument, is thousands of dollars, this will help alleviate that stress. 

e: What about POP's video or overall breadth of work made POP stand out in what looks like a cool crowd of community good-doers and nonprofits?  

TM: It is an incredible group of folks we are running against, last year when we were a finalist I was awed by everyone and their dedication to the environment, humanity and animals. It brings to mind the quote from Mr. Roger's mom, when he would see scary things in the news, "Look for the helpers, you'll always find people who are helping." It was an honor to be in the room with all of those helpers. I think we are included because our research has benefited science globally and at the local level high school and university students doing research with us earn resume building skills. Our small team and countless volunteers have collected over 67,000 lbs of trash and planted over 2500 trees. This is a huge boon to our environment and cause. It should also be mentioned that our efforts got us in the top five finalists, but our community that participated in the public voting made us a top two finalist that earned us the ability to be an honoree this year. 

e: What would you say to the reader who maybe isn't that familiar POP or its work, but it'd be rad if they still took a second to click/vote?

Plastic pollution is a non-partisan issue. We can all agree that plastic pollution is a serious issue that is affecting both our environment, animal and human health. Plastic pollution can be addressed by reducing waste and cleaning up the environment, we address both. But we can't do it without the support of our community and involvement. Support comes in many ways, volunteering, financial support or as simple as voting for POP with a couple of daily clicks. 

e: We know all funds raised in the nonprofit sector (especially environment) is deeply needed, but is there an added sense of urgency for this boost needed in the current climate?  So many have already seen funding impacts in some for or fashion...

There is a ripple effect when federal and state funding for nonprofits is cut, more nonprofits are left scrambling for funding from a smaller pool of resources. Which in turn affects our ability to continue research projects and maintain the same level of impact. We are fortunate to have businesses like Land Rover who are stepping up to support the important work of nonprofits. 

e: OK, so our reader has voted for POP—yay!—what's the very next thing they should do to support POP and its work?

MT: First I would say a big fat THANK YOU to them for their support. Then I would say there are so many ways to be involved with us, do they like to sew? Be a part of the Trash'n Fash'n show. Got a green thumb? Help us plant the trees we earned this year in our cleanups. Like to get dirty? Come be a part of our many cleanups and earn a tree. Feeling fancy? Join our annual For The Ocean Gala committee. Too busy? Become a member and share the things we do with your friends and family.

e: Is there anything else to get involved, upcoming pop events, etc?

TM: I highly recommend going to our website and getting on our volunteer list, there are so many opportunities to get involved there. We also have a calendar on our website that tells you all the happenings with POP. As for the next opportunities...

October 11: we are partnering with multiple nonprofits for a clean up at Carolina Beach State Park

October 18: Tree planting with Habitat for Humanity and Live Oak Bank, bonus points if anyone has experience planting trees

October 18: Cleanup after the beer and wine festival—we need all hands on deck for this one!

e: What is one small daily act someone can take to help with plastic pollution?

TM: Our founder always says "if you don't use it, you can't lose it." We have more power than we think as consumers, through choice. Educate yourself on the dangers of plastics. Explore our website learn about how plastics impact us and see yourself as part of the solution.