By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Rubber ducks abandoned their natural habitat of the bath tub Saturday morning and took to the Sandusky River for a good cause at the first Rubber Duck Derby.
Hosted by WQEL at Aumiller Park, proceeds from the Rubber Duck Derby benefitted the Backpack Buddies program. The rubber duck race started at the rapids upstream from the Friendship Bridge. Once the ducks were released into the waters it was a race through the rapids with the first rubber duck to cross under the bridge taking winner’s honors.
Finishing in first place for the corporate class was the Michael Taylor Foundation. Representative Dave Bush was on hand to receive the corporate trophy. Bush, who felt quacked up about winning the first race, was thankful for the event.
“We just thank WQEL for sponsoring this, and being the first winner of this we hope this will continue on in the years ahead,” Bush said.
The Michael Taylor Foundation works with local residents who are struggling with different issues.
Finishing in first place for the individual race was Debra Orians’ duck. Orians explained that she didn’t expect to win the race.
“I am so excited, I didn’t think my duck would be the first one,” Orians said.
For the victory, Orians took home the grand prize basket with nearly $600 worth of goodies.
After the event was finished and monies calculated the Rubber Duck Derby raised $500 for the Backpack Buddies program, and while that doesn’t sound like much, Backpack Buddies Purchasing Agent and Treasurer Virginia Hammontree explained that a little bit goes a long way.
“(Whether) $500 sounds like a little, sounds like a lot, it depends on how you look at it,” Hammontree said. “Last year our bags cost us about $5 per bag so I look at it as 100 children having food for the weekend.”
The Backpack Buddies program feeds an average of 160 children each weekend with six meals and two snacks for the kids. Currently the program is seeking volunteers to help pack the backpacks.
A photo gallery of the Rubber Duck Derby can be found online on this site’s Photo page.