WEIS Radio Interview Highlights Duck Race Festival and Community Impact of Family Care Center

CENTRE — During a recent on-air interview with WEIS Radio, Brook Trainer of the Family Care Center and Thrift Store shared details about the upcoming Weiss Lake Duck Race Festival, while also highlighting the organization’s ongoing efforts to serve families in need across the region. You can listen to the interview here:

The festival is set for Saturday, May 16, at Jake’s on the Lake, and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event marks the fourth year overall for the duck race. After hosting the festival for three consecutive years, organizers took a year off to focus on rebranding and expanding the event to better serve and include the community.

Trainer said this year’s event is expected to draw a large crowd, featuring numerous vendors offering a wide variety of items including jewelry, door hangers, crafts and other handmade goods. Food trucks will also be on site, providing attendees with a range of dining options throughout the day.

A major highlight of the festival is the duck race itself. Organizers have prepared 3,000 weighted rubber ducks, each corresponding to a numbered ticket purchased by participants. Ducks are available for $5 each, a price reduced from $10 in previous years in an effort to make participation more accessible to more members of the community.

The race will award a total of $3,500 in prize money, including $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Family Care Center and Food Bank, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008. Trainer explained that the organization began by serving 35 families and has since grown significantly, now distributing food twice a month on Mondays to between 300 and 400 families in need.

While the Family Care Center primarily focuses on serving Cherokee County, it does not turn away individuals from outside the area. In addition to food distribution, the organization provides a wide range of assistance, including support for families affected by house fires, the purchase of wheelchair ramps, blankets and heaters, vehicle assistance, and even home repairs such as roof work.

The organization also conducts clothing giveaways, providing shoes and complete outfits for families to help meet essential needs. The thrift store, which supports these efforts, is locally family-owned and operates as part of the nonprofit’s mission.

“It is a blessing to watch it unfold, and the community has been so supportive,” Trainer said during the interview.

Trainer also emphasized the importance of volunteers, noting that approximately 65 individuals help operate both the food bank and thrift store. “We could not do it without them,” Trainer said, adding, “I can’t praise our ladies enough—they keep it clean and immaculate.”

During the interview, Trainer also expressed appreciation to the event’s corporate sponsors, specifically thanking Union State Bank, Cargill, Tennessee Valley Authority, D C Gas, and Perry Funeral Home for their support in helping make the festival possible.

Community members interested in supporting the organization can donate items directly to the thrift store during operating hours, which are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, the Family Care Center can be reached by phone at 256-490-9524.

Those wishing to participate in the duck race can sponsor a duck by visiting familycarefoodbank.com or by purchasing tickets in person at the thrift store. Each ticket corresponds to a numbered duck entered into the race.

Organizers are also actively seeking business sponsors to help make the event a success and ensure strong community engagement. Multiple sponsorship levels are available, and businesses interested in participating can email familycarefoodbank@gmail.com for more information.

Festival goers will also enjoy live music throughout the day, with scheduled performances by Jake Steed, Mia Matthews and Avenue South.

During the WEIS Radio interview, the station engaged listeners by giving away five duck race tickets, with Wayne Loyd announced as the winner.

Trainer expressed appreciation for the opportunity to share information about both the event and the organization’s mission, noting a desire to return for future updates as the festival approaches.