Chronicle photo by Toni Milbourne Individuals can purchase ducks to race in the Rubber Ducky Classic coming up on Saturday by contacting Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers or arriving at the starting line on German Street before the race begins.

The Good Shepherd Caregivers is busy planning their upcoming fundraiser, a rubber duck race in the Town Run.

Held each July, on the third Saturday, this year’s race is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Ducks will be dumped into the Run in front of McMurran Hall and make their way toward The Little House where they will be stopped. The first three ducks reaching the end of the race will be the big prize winners. The purchaser of the first duck to cross the finish line will pocket $300 while second place winner will garner $200 and third $100. After those top three ducks swim to the finish, purchasers of the ducks still have hope in being the final duck to cross over which will earn $50.

The Rubber Ducky Classic, as the ever-popular event has been dubbed, has hundreds of ducks poured into the Town Run just across from Betty’s Restaurant on German Street. They travel down the run, ending at The Little House where netting is placed to prohibit them from swimming further. Folks gather along the sides of the run annually to watch for and cheer on their duck.

Ticket sales to purchase a duck are ongoing and can be made at Good Shepherd Interfaith Caregivers offices at 7311 Martinsburg Pike, Shepherdstown. They can also be purchased the day of the event on German Street beginning around 3:30 p.m. Ticket costs are $5 per duck or a family of five ducks for $20.

All proceeds from the event are used to benefit Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, an organization that offers free volunteer services including transportation, visiting, reassurance calls, yard work, medical equipment loans and fix-it projects to the senior and/or disabled citizens of Jefferson County.

The Good Shepherd Caregivers strive to provide informal volunteer caregiving to home-based older or disabled Jefferson County residents. Their goal is to promote independence, dignity, security and quality of life among elderly, disabled, frail and homebound residents of our county, regardless of income or family circumstances.

According to their website, Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers describes itself as a “Faith in Action program, is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization founded in 1990 by a small coalition of churches, individuals and the Shepherdstown Rotary Club with the goal of creating a stronger, more caring community in Jefferson County.”

The organization identifies and provides, volunteer support services to any member of Jefferson County who are fragile, home bound, or disabled of all ages or disability. The goal of the service is to help them remain in the community while maintaining their contact with the community.

The free, non-medical caregiving services are all provided by volunteers and include transportation to medical appointments, yard work, light housework, friendly visits, reassurance phone calls and medical equipment loan.

The annual Rubber Ducky Classic will help ensure continued services in the upcoming year.