Chris Sherman spent years bouncing around the world. Having grown up in Duxbury, he wanted to be anywhere but here. Yet once he returned, he realized he didn’t want to be anywhere but here. Now as marketing director for Island Creek Oysters, he and the company are spreading that hometown pride all around town – and beyond.

Sherman is the perfect representative of Island Creek’s latest initiative to give back to the community. As part of their latest charitable giving, separate from the Island Creek Oyster Foundation which helps build sustainable aquaculture systems in third world countries, Island Creek has designated four local organizations to benefit from sales of their special edition “Made In Duxbury” t-shirts. First up is the Duxbury Education Foundation (DEF). “Really it came down to a cause in town that’s near and dear to our hearts,” said Sherman. “Nearly all of us came through Duxbury High School, so we naturally chose DEF.”

The DEF is a non-profit that seeks to supplement Duxbury schools’ curriculum with innovative programs such as an AP Environmental Science class and a computer lab at the Alden School. Their annual fundraiser, the DEF Spelling Bee, will take place tonight at the PAC, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Sherman and others from Island Creek Oyster sported Duxbury pride nationally this past Monday when they appeared on the Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.” On it, Sherman showcased Duxbury and its seafood offerings to America and beyond.

“They came to the farm last summer and [Zimmern] smoked me in the shucking contest,” said Sherman, who can shuck an oyster better than most. When asked what was so “bizarre” about oysters and lobster, Sherman said, “I’m sure people in Bali would be just as mystified as to why eating goat testicles was considered strange.”

Giving Duxbury that kind of plug comes naturally to the folks at Island Creek. Executive Vice President Shore Gregory said in a statement that the “Made in Duxbury” charitable program makes sense because it was consistent with the company’s core values. His, too.

“It’s actually written into our company’s mission statement: ‘To run a business that the Town of Duxbury can be proud of,’ ” said Gregory. “We think this program will help us stay true to that mission. We are a local company and we are extremely proud of our roots. We also think a lot of other people feel the same way about our town, so hopefully we can harness that pride to do a greater good.”

David Knies, who serves on the DEF Board of Trustees, said he was honored that his organization was the first beneficiary of the “Made in Duxbury” t-shirt campaign and that it was the perfect fit for both his organization and Island Creek Oysters.

“We’re excited that the program is all about ‘Made in Duxbury,’ ” said Knies. “For the most part, Duxbury grows oysters and kids. That’s what we do at DEF, we grow kids.”

Island Creek Oysters has already chosen the beneficiaries of their summer, fall and winter campaigns. They include Duxbury Bay Maritime School, Duxbury Boosters and the Community Garden Club of Duxbury. To anyone who’s visited Island Creek’s retail shop on Park Street and noticed the wreath on the front door, it’s obvious why the Garden Club made the list.

“We got introduced to the Garden Club when they asked to use our oyster shells on their Christmas wreaths,” said Sherman. “It’s their bestseller.”