Just Ducky

In the 1990s, Freestore Foodbank was looking for a new way to raise money. A board member at that time, Bob Edwards, had a quacky idea for a fundraiser. What began as a lark has gone on to become the organization signature event. 

That first Rubber Duck Regatta involved 18,000 ducks and raised $69,000 for Freestore. On Sunday, more than 200,000 rubber ducks will swim to solve hunger in the 27th annual Rubber Duck Regatta presented by Dawn. More importantly, the event has raised over a million dollars a year for the last seven years.

Those funds, and additional support throughout the year, allow Freestore Foodbank to improve lives by eliminating hunger in partnership with the community. With one in seven people in the TriState at risk of hunger, Freestore is dedicated to addressing the need, providing 37.7 million meals each year in 20 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The community is grateful for the work Freestore does throughout the year – distributing meals to low-income individuals and families; supporting area food kitchens, homeless shelters, emergency food pantries, social service centers and program sites; and providing an array of services (emergency clothing, housing services, SNAP assistance, Medicaid outreach and others) as needed.

Freestore Foodbank’s mission is to improve lives by eliminating hunger in partnership with our community, and our vision is to create a hunger-free, healthy, and thriving community. To achieve this vision, our objectives are to provide nutritious food, connect to support services and offering a pathway from crisis to stability.

While it’s too late to buy a duck, it’s not too late to support Freestore Foodbank and the work they do in our community.