Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County is gearing up for its 12th rubber duck race on the Soque. There’s still time to join the race! VFL will award cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 to the ticket holders of the first three ducks to cross the finish line.
The race will be held during the 61st Annual Mountain Laurel Festival in Clarkesville.
“You can adopt a duck for $5 or get a real deal by purchasing five ducks for $20,” says Janine Pajek, this year’s duck race chair. “Or you can increase your chance of winning by purchasing 25 ducks for $100!”
Spend $20 or more for tickets and receive a one-year VFL membership.
Race day details
The duck race will start at 2 p.m. on May 20 at Pitts Park just off the downtown square in Clarkesville. There will be games and music in the park from 11:30 a.m. until race time. Festivalgoers are invited to enjoy the games and entertainment before heading to the river to watch the race from the shoreline.
Golf carts provided by Star Equipment will be available to transport families to the park and back.
The duck race and announcement of winners will be streamed live to the Mountain Laurel Festival stage on the Clarkesville Square.
The popular VFL Dec-a-Duck Contest is also back this year. Individuals and businesses who sign up as race sponsors will receive a large yellow rubber duck to decorate. Creations are based on literary themes. So far, more than 50 Dec-a-Ducks have been entered into this year’s contest. Entries will be judged in the following categories: Best All Around Duck, Most Creative Duck, Best Children’s Book/Fairy Tale-Themed Duck, Best Rookie Duck, Best Business-Themed Duck, and Best Festival-Themed Dec-a-Duck.
Raising money to improve people’s lives
Proceeds from ticket sales and duck race sponsorships will help VFL carry out programs that improve lives through literacy in Habersham County, including:
- The Dictionary Project, through which VFL annually donates more than 500 dictionaries to third graders in Habersham County Schools.
- The Scripps Spelling Bee. As many as 1,600 students in grades 4 – 8 compete to become the county champion speller.
- Teaching English to immigrants at Cornelia First Presbyterian Church. VFL pays for instructors and provides students with childcare and transportation, helping them overcome barriers that often deter language learners.
In addition to those ongoing community projects, VFL maintains the Dan and Kathie Nee Book Bank, which contains thousands of books that are given to underserved children throughout the year. Hundreds of books are placed in 17 Little Free Libraries VFL has installed throughout Habersham County, each is filled with books for children, adults, and young people.
Working with North Georgia Technical College to help prepare students for the GED and HiSet exams has long been a priority of VFL. The nonprofit offers attendance incentives and helps cover the cost of testing.
Before the pandemic, VFL routinely partnered with the Habersham County School System, Clarkesville and Cornelia Libraries, and Piedmont University Education Department to sponsore One Book Habersham. The organization is looking to resume this communitywide reading event next year.
“As we know, the ability to speak, read, and write is essential,” says Dr. Don Gnecco, VFL board president. “Volunteers for Literacy is continually striving to reach our goal of 100% literacy in Habersham County so that everyone can successfully participate in and contribute to our community. It takes all of us together.”
How to enter
To become a race sponsor and enter the Dec-a-Duck contest, email VFL at [email protected].
To purchase duck race tickets online, visit www.vflhabersham.com. Tickets may also be purchased by emailing [email protected] or calling 706-949-3157.
Tickets may also be purchased from any VFL board member and at these locations in Habersham County: Cornelia Library, Clarkesville Library, A to Zinc Health Store and Smoothie Bar, Elizabeth & Company, and A Garden for Wellness.
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