Duck race raises money for Palmerton Cat Project
Chico Eckhart, one of the owners of Riverwalck Saloon in Parryville, wades through the river with baskets of plastic ducks in both arms. DANIELLE DERRICKSON/TIMES NEWS
Plastic ducks float down the river below Riverwalck Saloon. DANIELLE DERRICKSON/TIMES NEWS
These two kittens were found in Palmerton on Saturday morning. They were picked up by a Palmerton Cat Project volunteer. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Palmerton Cat Project sold more than 600 ducks at its second annual duck race, according to Barb Greenzweig, the organization’s president.
The race, held Saturday, is the project’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
Ducks were provided by the same place where the event was hosted: Riverwalck Saloon in Parryville. At $5 per duck, $12 for 3 and $20 for six, participants were able to purchase an entry into the duck race. First prize, donated by Carbon County Friends of Animals, was $150.
Chico Eckhart is one of the owners of Riverwalk. He waded through the river, pulling the first place winner from the waves.
Eckhart said the saloon has hosted duck races in the river right below it many times over the last decade.
“It’s just giving back to the community,” he said. “We’re just here for the people.”
The Palmerton Cat Project works to trap, neuter and release felines in the Palmerton School District. It also takes in some abandoned cats and kittens, placing them in foster homes until the can be adopted.
Greenzweig said public support for the project, like that shown last weekend, enables the project to do their work. In fact, on the morning of the race, a volunteer picked up two kittens who were found on Columbia Avenue in Palmerton.
“It’s absolutely critical that we have funds to support our efforts,” Greenzweig said. “It’s hard work, and it takes a lot of our time, and if we the money behind us, we can do more.”
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