May the fourth be with the hundreds of people decked out in their finest derby attire to raise money for Wilson County Community Help Center at the 9th Annual Ducky Derby event on May 4, 2024. It will be held at the home of Kevin and Christine New this year, located at 4391 Franklin Road in Lebanon, Tennessee. Activities begin at 5:00 p.m.
Ducky Derby is a cross between a celebration of the Kentucky Derby, taking place over the same weekend, and a duck race. Ladies dress up in their finest summer dresses and oversized hats – for a parade and a prize — or winsome fascinators,while their gents don the occasional top hat to cheer on the bright yellow ducks they have purchased that “swim” in a pool until three are pulled as first, second and third place prize winners of $2,000, $1,000 and $500, respectively.
There will be plenty of mint juleps, dinner catered by Sammy B’s, and entertainment by Double Take Band. Silent and live auctions will take place during the event.
All proceeds from the event will be used by the Help Center to provide local residents in need with daily life essentials, home essentials and comfort, as well as, nutritional supplements and prescription assistance. Created in 1988, the center offers food, clothing, financial assistance for utilities, financial assistance for fire victims, assistance with the purchase of gas for vehicles to get to doctor visits, prescription drugs, and Ensure for the elderly and cancer patients.
The Help Center also runs a Thrift Store in Lebanon. They carry a large inventory of gently used top-quality items, with new things arriving daily. The store is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
“[O]ur shoppers find great savings,” says their website. “We have the best bargains on everything you need – clothing for the family, furniture and décor for every room in the house, kitchenware and small appliances, toys and books, electronics, and more.”
The designated 501(c) 3 organization accepts donations of all kinds: monetary, in-kind, stock, planned giving, materials, and time. They ask that donated items be clean, in working order, and that they are delivered in containers that are disposable or not expected to be returned. And they cannot accept expired food.
To purchase tickets to the May 4th Ducky Derby event and/or to buy a duck for $10, go to www.wilsoncountyhelpcenter.org, visit the Help Center or drop by the CedarStone Bank branch in Lebanon. For sponsorship information, contact Executive Director Karen Rudzinski at (615) 449-1856.
