They were yellow, pink and blue, floating in a small plastic pool on a November day. Their sheer number foretold the number of needy area families who would have a Thanksgiving turkey dinner this year.
Catawba College's Residence Life staff floated 2,152 plastic ducks on Monday, Nov. 16, in the seventh annual Thanksgiving Dinner "Duck Draw." The funds raised through the "sale" of the ducks will be enough this year to provide between 150 and 175 holiday meals for area families.
Since its inception, Catawba's annual Thanksgiving Dinner "Duck Draw" has raised money to feed more than 650 families, and this year, even more families will be served through the effort.
Members of the Residence Life staff have been collecting $1 donations to sponsor each plastic duck since Sept. 16. Organizers randomly drew a number of ducks from the pool and each duck that was plucked from the water had a number displayed on its bottom that corresponded to the number on a $1 ticket purchased by a member of either the college community or the community at large. These numbers also corresponded to donated prizes from area merchants, ranging from haircuts to large pizzas, and gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses. In all, 154 prizes were awarded to the duck purchasers.
Proceeds from the Duck Draw, along with funds raised through other projects undertaken by the Residence Life staff, will underwrite the costs of providing the Thanksgiving meals. The Residence Life staff will work with faculty and staff, local school agencies and local churches to select families in need of assistance with Thanksgiving meal. Meals will include a 10-12 pound turkey, rice, cranberry sauce, green beans, corn, stuffing mix, and a box of browning mix.
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