Hundreds of Ducks Take Flight During Inaugural "Chuck a Duck" Fundraiser

DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — It wasn't raining outside the Piscataquis County Ice Arena Friday night, but between periods of the Foxcroft Academy Alumni Hockey Game, hundreds of bright yellow rubber ducks came flying through the air.

Children, families, and hockey fans filled the stands with adopted ducks in hand, eagerly waiting for their chance to "Chuck a Duck." At the signal, hundreds of rubber ducks soared onto the ice, all aimed at Chuck, the Piscataquis Regional Food Center's oversized duck mascot, who happily played the role of target while keeping the crowd laughing.

The lighthearted competition marked the inaugural Chuck a Duck fundraiser, a collaborative event benefiting both the Piscataquis County Ice Arena and the Piscataquis Regional Food Center.

Once the ducks stopped sliding, the winners were determined by which ducks landed closest to Chuck.

Congratulations to this year's winners:

• 1st Place: Duck #259 – Ian

• 2nd Place: Duck #281 – Jen

• 3rd Place: Duck #237 – Tom

While spectators enjoyed the fun from the stands, members of the Piscataquis Youth Hockey Association (Penquis Panthers) became part of the action themselves. Alongside many of the children attending the game, the young hockey players enthusiastically launched ducks onto the ice before putting their skating skills to work collecting hundreds of ducks after the competition concluded.

"We couldn't have asked for a better first year," said Kelly Sirimoglu, Executive Director of the Piscataquis Regional Food Center. "Seeing children laughing, families participating together, and our community embracing something so wonderfully silly reminded us that fundraising doesn't always have to be formal. Sometimes bringing people together for a few minutes of pure fun is exactly what a community needs."

Sirimoglu added that while the event delivered plenty of laughs, it also highlighted the power of local partnerships. "The Ice Arena is such an important gathering place for our community, and we're grateful for the opportunity to partner with them. Together, we were able to create an event that supported two organizations dedicated to serving Piscataquis County while giving families a memorable experience."

The Piscataquis Regional Food Center extends heartfelt thanks to the Piscataquis County Ice Arena, Foxcroft Academy, and the Piscataquis Youth Hockey Association (Penquis Panthers) for helping bring the event to life. Special thanks also go to everyone who adopted a duck, volunteered, attended the game, and cheered on the flying flock, and, of course, to Chuck, whose willingness to stand in the middle of hundreds of incoming rubber ducks made the evening unforgettable.

Proceeds from the event will help support the continued operation of the Piscataquis County Ice Arena and enable the Piscataquis Regional Food Center to continue providing nutritious food to children, families, and older adults throughout Piscataquis County.

If the smiles and laughter inside the arena were any indication, the first-ever Chuck a Duck was more than just a fundraiser, it was the beginning of what organizers hope will become a new community tradition.