Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County held another successful duck race fundraiser on the Soque. On Saturday, more than 2,000 yellow rubber ducks were dropped into the river by Pitts Park in Clarkesville. Three won cash prizes for their ticket holders.
This year’s winners are 1st place ($1,000) Helen Barrett, 2nd place ($500) Chris Matrick, and 3rd place ($250) Linda Moore.
The 12th annual VFL Rubber Duck Race was held in conjunction with the city of Clarkesville’s 61st annual Mountain Laurel Festival.
The local nonprofit also held a rubber duck decorating contest. There were more than 50 entries this year. Tallulah Falls School won the People’s Choice award for its Bob Ross duck.
Other winners from this year’s Dec-A-Duck contest will be announced next week.
VFL Executive Director Phylecia Wilson says this year’s fundraisers raised over $24,000 to support local literacy programs.
Where the money goes
Proceeds from the sale of tickets and duck race sponsorships will help VFL carry out programs that improve literacy in Habersham County. Those programs include a variety of approaches to helping a wide range of people from grade school through adulthood.
The Dictionary Project, through which VFL provides more than 500 dictionaries to third graders in Habersham County Schools (HCS) each year. VFL sponsors the Scripps Spelling Bee. As many as 1,600 students in grades 4 – 8 compete to become the county champion speller. VFL also teaches English classes to non-speakers of English at Cornelia First Presbyterian Church and, for the past decade and a half, has provided childcare and transportation for students, two barriers that deter immigrants from learning English.
VFL also 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, each of which is filled with books for children, adults, and young people.
Working with North Georgia Technical College (NGTC), VFL helps students learn about the NGTC adult education GED and HiSet programs. VFL offers attendance incentives. Money raised from this weekend’s fundraisers goes to support scholarships to help students cover the cost of testing.
Finally, VFL partnered with HCS, Clarkesville and Cornelia Libraries, and the Piedmont University Education Department to bring One Book Habersham to residents prior to COVID-19. Plans are underway to continue the three-month-long event in 2024.
“As we know, the ability to speak, read, and write is essential,” said 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.”
