CINCINNATI — For the 25th year in a row, Freestore Foodbank rained yellow rubber ducks from the Purple People Bridge Sunday afternoon.
Although uncooperative weather caused delays for the event, ducks bought by community members in support of feeding hungry children poured into the Ohio River.
Last year’s event raised over $1 million, or the equivalent of 3 million meals, for Tri-State children. Since 1995, the event has raised enough money to give away more than 36 million meals.
The first prize duck will win a Honda CR-V and, if it's the “KEMBA Million Dollar Duck," a cool $1 million. Second place wins a year of free Kroger groceries, and five other winners will receive KEMBA Credit Union cash prizes.
The list of the lucky duck winners are as follows:
- First Prize (2019 CRV): Carla Farrell of Franklin, OH
- $5,200 in groceries from Kroger ($100 per week for a year): Paulette Helm of Hamilton, OH
- $500 cash from KEMBA Credit Union: Marlene Beeler of Blue Ash, OH
- $500 cash from KEMBA Credit Union: Mary Anderson of Cincinnati, OH
- $500 cash from KEMBA Credit Union: Lydia Groomes of Walton, KY
- $500 cash from KEMBA Credit Union: Ann Korte of Cincinnati, OH
- $500 cash from KEMBA Credit Union: Daniel Sauer of Cleves, OH
While it's a long-held Riverfest tradition, the Rubber Duck Regatta also helps kick-off Hunger Action Month, when Feeding America food banks “unite to urge individuals to take action in their communities throughout September to help fight hunger in America,” according to a release.
