5th annual ‘Deputy Duck Derby’ benefitting Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes held in Effingham County

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The fifth annual Deputy Duck Derby was held Saturday in Effingham County to raise money for Mackees Funds, a non-profit that donates to Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes.

Event benefits youth homes

The Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes is a residential care program that helps children who have been abandoned, neglected and abused.

In the past three years, the derby has helped raise over $20,000 for the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes. This year alone, organizers are hoping to raise that same amount in one year, according to Samantha Easton, CEO and founder of Mackees Funds.

Hundreds of rubber ducks competed in three races on Saturday, all purchased by members of the Effingham Co. community. This year, the ducks were customized for the first time.

A large water slide carried the ducks down a hill for families to watch and cheer on until winners were announced.

Partnership with Faith & Blue

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said the national event is a time to bring law enforcement together with local faith based, social service and civic organizations, along with other first responders in the area. The premise of Faith & Blue is to bring together law enforcement and residents in the community to build connections, create mutual understanding, and enhance justice and reconciliation, according to the ECSO.

“We wanted something that we could bring the community together because we are such a tight-knit community, and also benefit the youth homes as best that we could,” said Easton. “We were super excited to start this for Effingham and bring everybody out and just have a good time and also partnering with the Sheriff’s Office and doing the Faith in Blue event as well, so it’s just really cool to bring everybody out and working together.”

In addition to the races, the event included bouncy houses, food trucks, music, raffles and local vendors.