Channel 6 presents “O! What a Duck Race!”

The 2009 “O! What a Duck Race took place July 25 at Heartland of America Park and raised more than $120,000!

It all benefits The Food Bank. Its main goal was to adopt 50,000 ducks to raise funds and increase awareness of hunger in our community.

In Douglas County 53,000 people live below poverty line – and 16,800 of those are children.

The Food Bank collects food nationally as a member of Feeding America, a national network of food banks and food manufacturers. The Food Bank also collects food locally through food drives and from local food manufacturers, food distributors and grocery stores. Food is distributed to people in 77 Nebraska counties and 16 western Iowa counties.

More than 300 partner agencies receive food from The Food Bank. It is then distributed to people who are hungry. Food pantries, meal providers, emergency shelters, low-income childcare centers and senior citizen programs - are all examples of these partner agencies.

The Festival is a free community event and it features racing of 50,000 ducks!

Here are the 2009 winners:

Grand Prize Winner of the 2009 Nissan Sedan provided by Nissan of Omaha: John Talbott

Second Place Prize – Alaskan Cruise and $1,000 Spending Money: Reruns R Fun

Third Place Prize – Family Membership for a year to Prairie Life Fitness: Chad Picha

Fourth and Fifth Place Prizes of $1,000 Savings Bond: Jeannie Hicks and Elizabeth Tekrony