A yellow bloom – the good kind, this time – filled the waterways near the Capt. Hiram’s Sand Bar recently as 5,000 rubber duckies were sent bobbing toward the shoreline during the seventh annual Great Duck Derby to benefit Treasure Coast Community Health.
Amid a cacophony of quackery, the SeaWind Duo entertained the crowd, who wandered about snapping up 50/50 raffle tickets, biding on a collection of adorable rubber duckies decorated by corporate sponsors, and purchasing assorted duck bling.
Sporting their fine feathered gear, attendees flocked to the river’s edge to cheer on the ducks they had sponsored, as the colorful waterfowl were released.
With little to no wind on the horizon to help push the little fellows to shore, volunteers lined the watery race route and offered up some momentum to get the ducks to turn their tails eastward, where they floated into a tube to cross the finish line. Prizes were given to the first three birds of a feather that made it across.
The real winners are the residents who receive healthcare from TCCH no matter their circumstances. TCCH provides accessible, cost-effective, high-quality, comprehensive care to individuals regardless of their socio-economic circumstances, with costs on a sliding scale based on income.
The nonprofit expects to serve more than 25,000 unduplicated adults and children this year, most living at or below the federal poverty level, through its medical, dental and behavioral healthcare programs.
They currently operate out of seven locations, the newest being the TCCH Gifford Health Center. In January, when the relocated United Against Poverty facility opens, they will also provide services there.
“We’ve expanded enough; now we want to focus on the patients we have, our processes and increasing our patient satisfaction. Currently, 92 percent of our patients say that they would refer us,” said CEO Vicki Soulé.
“We’re very, very happy and proud that more of the community is participating with us, because we’re serving more of the community,” she added. “These kinds of fundraisers are extremely important, because if we don’t have the funds we can’t give as deep a discount and then individuals find it more difficult to come in and get the care that they need.”
For information, visit tcchinc.org.
Photos by: Denise Ritchie
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