May 18th will be the 62nd Annual Mountain Laurel Festival, and the Mountain Laurel Festival would not be the Mountain Laurel Festival without Volunteers for Literacy’s (VFL) Rubber Duck Race. In its 13th year, the VFL Rubber Duck Race has become as much a tradition as the Lion’s Club Mountain Laurel Day Parade that kicks off the day. Ducks will go into the river at 2 p.m. from the bridge on Highway 197.
Proceeds from the race
The “race” to the finish line is all about the numbers on the ducks. Numbers on tickets that can be purchased for $5 each, 5 for $20, or 25 for $100 correspond to numbers on ducks. As the little rubber duckies paddle down the Soque River and “race” to the finish line, so does your opportunity to win. At the finish line, volunteers are ready to grab the first three ducks that float across the finish line first. The first-place duck wins $1,000 for its “owner”, the second-place duck brings in $500, and the third wins $250. Winners will be announced from the stage in Pitts Park at 3 p.m.
Proceeds from the sale of tickets and duck race sponsorships will help VFL carry out programs that improve literacy in Habersham County. Programs include The Dictionary Project, in which VFL gives more than 500 dictionaries to third graders in Habersham County Schools (HCS) each year. VFL sponsors the Scripps Spelling Bee in which as many as 1,600 students in grades 4 – 8 compete to become the county champion speller. VFL also teaches English to non-speakers of English and for the past decade and a half has provided childcare and transportation for students, two barriers that deter immigrants from learning English.
Other programs
VFL also maintains the VFL Book Bank which contains thousands of books that are given to underserved children throughout the year. The books also go into 19 Little Free Libraries, each of which is filled with books for children, adults, and young people.
Working with North Georgia Technical College to help students learn about their adult education GED and HiSet programs and offering help with the cost of testing also is a priority for VFL.
Finally, VFL partners with HCS, Clarkesville, and Cornelia Libraries to bring One Book Habersham (OBH) to the community. This year’s OBH culminated in mid-April with a visit from Shanda McCloskey who illustrated this year’s book, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf/Editor.
Importance of reading
“The importance of reading skills cannot be overemphasized,” said Joyce Gallo VFL Board President. “Each of our programs is designed to encourage reading and to promote and foster literacy in Habersham County.”
One of the favorite fundraisers during the duck race is in its 7th year, the 7th Annual Dec-A-Duck Contest. All sponsors of the duck race and in-kind sponsors are invited to decorate a large yellow duck provided by VFL. Voting for People’s Choice is held on the VFL Facebook page and Mountain Laurel Day at the VFL booth. Judging for other categories such as Best All Around Duck, Most Creative Duck, and Best Children’s Book/Fairy Tale-Themed Duck will be held before the Mountain Laurel Festival.
Information
For more information on the race, purchasing tickets, or entering the Dec-A-Duck contest, go to www.vflhabersham.com, email [email protected], or call 706-949-3157.
Tickets may be purchased at the VFL website, on Facebook, and from any VFL board member. Tickets also can be purchased at Cornelia Library and in Clarkesville at Clarkesville Library, A to Zinc Health Store and Smoothie Bar, Erin London, Clarkesville City Hall, and at Elizabeth & Company Resale Treasures in Clarkesville.
