A Colossal Inflatable Duck Takes Over a Park in Farmington for Charity
If you happen to pass by a park in Farmington this week, you might be surprised to find a colossal inflatable duck towering over you. But don’t worry, it’s not the beginning of a new B-movie horror flick, it’s there for a good cause.
Local social service agency, CARES, organized a novelty rubber duck race down the Rouge River near Shiawassee Park as a way of raising funds for its vital food pantry. This notable event even featured a huge, six-story-tall traveling rubber duck puffed up at Shiawassee Park throughout the week, drawing curious onlookers from around Farmington.
Claimed to be the “world’s biggest duck”, this behemoth of an inflatable bird weighs a staggering 15 tons. As if this wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows and heart rates, around 8,000 tiny rubber ducks were unleashed into the nearby Rouge River on Wednesday as part of the fun.
While the final tally from the fundraising event hasn’t been released yet, the goal for this hardworking organization is clear. CARES needs to raise around $14,000 every month to cover the cost of distributing food to nearly 750 families living across local communities such as Farmington, Farmington Hills, Livonia, Northville, Novi, Redford Township, Southfield and West Bloomfield Township.
Run by CARES, the food pantry and a tiny grocery store servicing those in need are located on the grounds of the old St. Alexander’s Catholic church on Shiawassee Street in Farmington. It just goes to show that from the quack-tacular to the downright heartwarming, there are plenty of innovative ways to help our communities thrive.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
