In Cincinnati, Rubber Ducks = Millions of Meals

If you are like most people, when you hear the words “rubber duck” your mind might go straight to childhood thoughts of Sesame Street’s Ernie in a bubble filled tub singing Rubber Ducky You’re The One. Here in Cincinnati, rubber ducks take on a whole new meaning – helping the FreestoreFoodbank provide meals to people in need.

Rubber Duck Regatta
Fun Facts:

• The total weight of the ducks dropped into the Ohio River tips the scales at 18,750 pounds!
• It takes hundreds of volunteers nearly 2,000 hours to prepare for the Rubber Duck Regatta.
• It is the world’s largest and longest-running rubber duck race.

In just a few weeks (September 5), the FreestoreFoodbank will host it’s 16th Annual Rubber Duck Regatta during Riverfest down on the banks of the Ohio River.  That afternoon, the FreestoreFoodbank will drop as many as 125,000 ducks into the Ohio River from the Purple People Bridge to race along the Serpentine Wall. The owner of the first duck to cross the finish line will win a 2010 Honda Fit Sport and possibly $1 million, if their duck is the “Million Dollar Duck.” Five runners-up will win $1,000 savings bonds from KEMBA Credit Union.

Last year’s Rubber Duck Regatta netted more than $550,000, the equivalent to 2.2 million meals for Cincinnati’s less fortunate.

Ducks are just $5 each and can be bought online at www.rubberduckregatta.org; by phone at (513) 929-DUCK (3825) or in person at all KEMBA Credit Union locations and Kroger stores.

Pricing for ducks is as follows:

• $5 – One duck
• $25 – “Big Quack” –  Five ducks, plus one free
• $50 – “Quacker’s Dozen” – Ten ducks, plus two free
• $100 – “Flock of Ducks” – Twenty ducks, plus four free

According to the FreestoreFoodbank, because of the relationships they have with vendors, your money goes much further than you or I could stretch it.  As a matter of fact, by simply buying 6 ducks ($25),  the Freestore Foodbank can feed a family of four for an entire week! That blows my mind.  Could you do that? I couldn’t.

Ducks are on sale now and can be purchased up until  2pm the day of the Regatta, September 5. For more information, visit the FreestoreFoodbank’s website and click on the cute rubber duck.

PS. If you are downtown on August 27th, stop by Fountain Square for the Freestore’s fun pre-Rubber Duck Regatta event, the Quacky Races.  At 1pm supports of the event will dress in duck inspired costumes and compete in a variety of relay races.