Duck Pluck makes debut at FoxFireFest

Sesame Street's Ernie opined on the value of a single rubber ducky with the classic song, "Rubber ducky, you're the one."

Well, how about 10,000 rubber duckies?

That's how many rubber ducks event organizers expect to sell in the Duck Pluck at this year's FoxFireFest.

"The most we've ever sold was 11,000 a couple years ago, but this year we're aiming for 10,000," said Cheryl Wendt, director of development and marketing at the Boys & Girls Club in Elgin, the group running the duck pluck.

The duck pluck is the largest fundraiser of the year for the group, hoping to bring in money to support its after-school and summer programs.

"It costs $10 to be in the club, but each child in the program costs the group $338 a year, so that's why we need the public's help," Wendt said.

This is the first year the club will hold its duck pluck as part of Elgin's FoxFireFest. In previous years, the duck pluck was part of the club's own music festival, but to decrease the demand for volunteers, "The club decided to incorporate its duck pluck with the city's already successful festival," Wendt said.

The ducks will be dropped into the Festival Park's fountain at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

For more details, you can call the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin at (847) 608-5018 or go to the duck pluck's Web site at elginducks.com.