Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/106363
The Duck Derby: Building a Better Community by STEPHANIE CRIDER The Fayetteville Duck Derby is fairly new as a local fundraiser, but Fayetteville Urban Ministry's mission is "to show God's compassion for already it is one that the community looks forward to each year. There are our neighbors in need, and thus build our community together." This is plenty of fun ways to participate, even if it doesn't accomplished through several programs. involve Quacky. The Emergency Assistance program was Typically, around March, local bars and started in 1974. It provides food, clothing and restaurants compete in the Duck Derby Drink financial assistance to those in crisis. In fiscal year and Appetizer Competition to claim the honor 2010/2011, this program touched more that 5,000 of creating and serving the official Duck Derby family members and more than 300 homeless people. Drink/Appetizer. For several weeks the public The Nehemiah project was founded in 1993. is invited to visit their favorite participating Volunteers from local churches repair homes of bars and restaurants to sample and compare the low-income home owners. It did not take long various treats and vote on their favorites. The for this program to grow. In 1994 the emergency votes are tallied and the winners are proclaimed home-repair program that was run by the at the Duck Derby, which is on May 4, giving the Community Development Department of the City of establishments bragging rights for a year. The Fayetteville became a part of this program. Between local chefs and mixologists relish the challenge of 170 and 200 elderly and/or low income home offering creative food and drinks that the public owners receive help from the Nehemiah Project. can enjoy while supporting a great cause at the Locally, 24 percent of adults read at lower than same time. a fifth-grade level. Since 1976, the Adult Literacy In the weeks leading up to the event, people are Program has assisted adults in the areas of reading, encouraged to buy rubber ducks to enter in the race. writing, math, English and in computer skills. The ducks are given computer-generated numbers Literacy doesn't just benefit the adult student; their and are randomly tagged. family members benefit, too. Approximately 150-185 Quacky, the event mascot, makes appearances adults are served through this program each year. around town, and sometimes around the world, The Find-A-Friend Program was started in 1982. posting his adventures on Facebook. This season, he This program engages high risk kids with afterhas already been spotted at the Fayetteville Christmas school activities and programs, summer camps and Parade and with visiting journalist Geraldo Rivera. field trips. According to www.fayurbmin.org, "It On race day, thousands gather at the Cape Fear costs taxpayers more than $100,000 per year to Geraldo Rivera and Johnny Wilson River, usually at Campbellton Landing, as 15,000 house one juvenile in confinement, and the cost to to 20,000 ducks are dropped into the river. In our community is limitless when a youth yields to previous years, prizes have included a new car, beach and mountain getthe temptations of chronic truancy, crime and anti-social behavior. It takes away weekends, gift certificates to local spas and golf courses, silent less than $1,500 to sponsor a youth in FAF to participate in one year full of auctions and more. This year, the grand prize is a 2013 Toyota Scion D. prevention services with a full Summer Achievement Camp." The day has also included music, food, kids' activities and vendors — all More than 200 youth are touched by this program every year and Find-Athe ingredients for a fun day, and best of all, admission is free. Friend boasts an 80 percent success rate. While the Duck Derby was originally established as a fundraiser for Find out more about Fayetteville Urban Ministry, visit www. Fayetteville Urban Ministry, other nonprofits can get in on the action by fayurbmin.org. Learn more about the Duck Derby at www. registering as a team. Once a team is established, anyone who chooses to buy a facebook.com/fayettevilleduckderby. This year's event is duck — or several ducks — can choose which team will receive funding from scheduled for May 4, so go ahead STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMthe purchase. Teams have included everything from child advocacy groups to and mark your calendar. MENTS? Editor@upandcominarts-related nonprofits to health-related charities and even corporate teams. gweekly.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JAN. 30 - FEB. 5, 2013 UCW 11