Vicki Soule and Judi Miller. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Everything was just ducky at Capt. Hiram’s Sandbar during the 11th annual Duck Derby to benefit Treasure Coast Community Health.

Watching as the waters off the sandbar became awash with 6,608 yellow rubber duckies bobbing along toward the shore, their ‘adopters’ each hoped their ducky would come in first.

The lucky adopters of the first three ducks to make it to shore each won cash prizes.

“We sold 1,600 more ducks this year than ever before,” said Vicki Soulé, TCCH CEO.

Adorned in an array of duck-worthy ware, from duck-billed hats and quackers to rubber ducky tops, anasaphilia – a love of ducks – was rampant, with many folks opting to get their photos taken with Indi and Ping, a pair of local feathered celebrities. Building up to the great duck release, attendees celebrated the work of TCCH.

The Vero Beach Art Club auctioned off a flock of darling duck divas and dudes created by local artists, that had been on display at the club’s Annex. The lineup, which virtually flew off the shelf, included artists, a chef, a ballerina, Miss Vero Beach, a gardener, a disco duck, Jimmy Duckett and Hot Lips Hula Duck, and numerous others.

The mission of TCCH is to provide accessible, cost-effective, high-quality, comprehensive healthcare to all Indian River County residents regardless of socio-economic circumstances.

TCCH offers services in eight locations in the county, plus the county jail.

The nonprofit serves more than 28,000 clients yearly, 50 percent of which are at or below the Federal Poverty Level, providing medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral and mental health care to all at costs based on income.

“This year, funds raised from the Duck Derby are going directly to women and children and pharmaceutical support for those that are low income,” Soulé explained.

The influx of people moving to Vero Beach has increased the need for healthcare providers, and to meet the demand, Soulé said TCCH continues to hire great providers.

“Currently, the average wait in Florida is about a month. We’re [TCCH] about halfway in between that week and a month, depending on the provider.”

However, she said they need more clinical space and additional funding.

“We get a generous grant from John’s Island Community Service League to support women’s health issues, but even between the Duck Derby and that grant, we run out of funding for women about three-quarters of the way through the year,” said Soulé.

This means TCCH isn’t always able to offer low-cost mammography to its clients, delaying testing.

“One out of every eight women is likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and early detection is the secret to the cure,” she continued.

As TCCH accepts all insurance, Soulé said they continue to see people who can afford to pay as well as those who can’t.

“Our quality is always aimed at the top of the scale, not mid-way. We take the information at the front desk, but the folks in the back have no idea whether you’re insured or uninsured. Whether you are a VIP or just arrived in town on a dilapidated truck. The quality of care is top-notch,” said Soulé.

For additional information, visit TCCHINC.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis and Stephanie LaBaff