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Ducks are ready to swim Erie Canal to help hungry and homeless

by jmaloni
Thu, Jul 12th 2012 09:20 am

Community Missions and Canal Fest of the Tonawandas are partnering again this year to help the homeless and hungry through the 2012 annual Duck Race. The ducks will swim and race on Saturday, July 21, at 3 p.m. in the canal between Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.

The Duck Race will have yellow, pink and blue ducks racing down the Erie Canal; 2,000 ducks up for adoption at $5 each. Buyers can purchase individual ducks or they can choose to purchase a "Quack Pack" for $25, in which they will receive six adopted duck racers. Participants can increase their odds with a "Quacker's Dozen" of 13 ducks for $50.

Duck adoptions are available online atwww.communitymissions.org and in person at Canal Fest July 15 through July 21, at the tent with the yellow duck on the North Tonawanda side of the festival. Duck adoption will end at 2:45 p.m. on the day of the race. The winners will be announced the day of the Duck Race as well.

There are prizes for the top five winning ducks: first place is the new iPad; second place is an Xbox 360 with Kinect; third place is a $100 shopping spree to Budwey Market; fourth place is a year of bagels and cream cheese from Panera Bread; and a special 21-and-up fifth place prize is a wine membership at Gust of Sun Winery, which includes 12 bottles of wine, wine tastings and discounts for the winery. Along with the top five, ducks will swim for 25 runner-up prizes, including a variety of gift certificates and tickets to area venues donated by area businesses. In addition to the race, ducks will walk in the Canal Fest Parade on Tuesday, July 17, at 6 p.m.

The Duck Race proceeds benefit crisis and community service programs of Community Missions, located at 1570 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. These programs include the homeless shelter, community soup kitchen, food pantry, Mark's Place-HIV/AIDS Residence, parole re-entry and clothes closet.

Sponsors include Valvoline, GEICO, William C. Rott and Son, BXI Consulting, Gust of Sun Winery and Vineyard, Panera Bread J.A. Brundage Drain Doctor, a friend of Community Missions, Dental Wellness, Liazon, Budwey's, State Sen. George Maziarz, WLVL 1340, LCTV, Dan the Man Printing and Embroidery, Walmart of Clarence, Mighty Taco, Oogie Games, Albright Knox Art Gallery, Riviera Theatre, Adventure Speedway, Massage Suite and Spa, Buffalo Sabres, Wendy's, Texas Road House, Yi-Dan Gi Martial Arts, Musical Faire, Burchfield Penney and Irish Classical Theatre.

For more information, contact Katie Trombley, CMI's Duck Race coordinator and public relations manager, at 716-285-3403, ext. 2225, or email [email protected]. Duck adopters need not attend the event or live in the area to participate and win.

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