For the first time in nine years, Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County (VFL) is canceling its annual rubber duck race on the Soque. The local nonprofit will instead hold a drawing to determine this year’s winners of three large cash prizes.
VFL board members decided to cancel the race due to COVID-19. They say it would have been difficult for volunteers manning the event to safely socially distance in the river.
“The decision was made out of concern for the health and safety of our many dedicated volunteers,” says Johnny Bailey who has chaired the race since its inception. “We will hold a random drawing for the winners this year, but look forward to seeing everyone next year at our 10th annual duck race at the Clarkesville Mountain Laurel Festival.”
If you’ve already bought tickets for this year’s duck race you’re automatically entered into the drawing. The rubber duck drawing will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 12 in the City of Clarkesville gazebo, following judging in the 2020 VFL Dec A Duck contest.
“Each of our duck race sponsors and VFL supporters had the opportunity to decorate a large yellow rubber duck,” explains VFL Director Phylecia Wilson. “Just as last year, we have some outstanding entries and we hope people will come to Clarkesville on that Saturday, wearing their masks, of course, and vote for their favorite Dec A Duck.”
VFL board members and volunteers will sell tickets for the rubber duck drawing at the gazebo, hand out books to children who attend, and have the Dec A Ducks on display for “Peoples Choice” voting from 9 a.m. until 1 p. m.
Judges will determine the winners in other categories including “Most Creative Duck,” “Best All Around Duck” and “Best Book/Literature Theme.”
Flagging ticket sales
Due to the pandemic, many nonprofits are struggling with fundraising this year and VFL is no different. Wilson says they’ve sold about half the number of duck race tickets as they normally do. “Literacy is important to all communities and we are hoping those who understand that will come forward and support literacy by purchasing tickets,” she says.
The race, which is scheduled each year to coincide with Clarkesville’s Mountain Laurel Festival, had already been rescheduled from May to September. On August 12, Clarkesville canceled the festival.
Wilson expresses her appreciation to the many sponsors who have stood by VFL through the scheduling changes and cancellations. Many will be participating in the Dec A Duck contest and “we look forward to promoting their businesses through that event.”
Although VFL ducks won’t be splashing into the river, they could still make a splash in someone’s pocketbook. The cash prizes for the duck race drawing are $1,000, $500, and $250.
Tickets are still on sale. They’re $5 each or 5 for $20. You may purchase them online at vflhabersham.com.
Tickets are also available at the Clarkesville and Cornelia Libraries and at these Clarkesville businesses: A to Zinc Health Store and Smoothie Bar, Sweet ReLeaf, Elizabeth & Co. and at the Soque River Watershed Association (SRWA) office.
Donations go to support local literacy programs
Money raised from the VFL Rubber Duck Race fundraiser goes to support the organization’s literacy programs such as The Dictionary Project, which gives a dictionary to every third-grade child in Habersham County Public Schools. VFL also sponsors the Scripps Spelling Bee for Habersham County Schools’ elementary and middle school students and works with the school system, the Piedmont School of Education, and Habersham County Libraries to bring One Book Habersham to the community.
A United Way of Habersham County agency, VFL also keeps up the VFL Book Bank that provides books to children and adults through 11 Little Free Libraries, the Summer Reading Program, and the Kiwanis Christmas Program. In addition, VFL conducts an English Language Acquisition Program (ELA) that teaches English to non-speakers of English and provides child care and transportation to those who need it.
