The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center’s 23rd annual “Duck Dash” was in full swing on a warm Sunday morning and hosted community members, local dignitaries, multiple vendors, activities for the whole family and, of course, thousands of yellow rubber ducks racing down the slide at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center.
People of all ages were smiling and having a great time, waiting for the first drop of ducks.
Jaqueline Denich said it was her first time coming to the Duck Dash with her family and that she wanted to support the center because they have used their services.
“We decided to come because we do have a little young son. We’ve been to the Aquatic Center before and had an amazing time. We actually are patients at the Samuel Dixon. Yeah, we, so we’ve been there. We’ve had a really great experience. And so, we wanted to come out and help support,” Denich said.
Denich said coming out with fellow community members is important because it gives people the opportunity to be outside, have a great time with family, and support a good cause.
“I think it’s so great that we can all come together and have a really great time, and, you know, there’s no issues, or it doesn’t feel like there’s issues. It feels like everyone’s just having a good time, being together (and) enjoying those interactions. So, it’s really great,” Denich said.
During the event, attendees could decorate their own rubber ducks, make sensory jars, color ducks, and draw on tote bags.
Vendors included a photo booth, a churro stand, an ice cream shop, and balloon animals for whoever wanted one.
Shannon Lindland brought her son, Camden, 6, again for fun this year.
Shannon said she has been coming to the event for years because her son loves it and that it is a great way to spend time with family.
When asked what his favorite part of the day was, Camden said he loves the playground at the Aquatic Center and the ducks. Shannon said she liked the different activities offered for attendees.
“He was able to make a little sensory (jar), he made a bag, and a little duck, and so we have a lot of fun things to take home, and then he enjoys playing in the water,” Shannon said.
She added that she loves the event because she learns a lot about the community.
“I’m happy to have a community that values assisting others, and education. It’s great to have a supportive community, and that’s important to us,” Shannon said.
Philip Solomon, CEO of the nonprofit Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, said two things have changed since budget cuts and that is more people are not showing up to their medical appointments and the numbers for uninsured people are increasing.
“Because they were afraid that the benefits are going to be cut or have been cut. And the other thing that we notice is that, you know, our uninsured numbers are starting to increase,” Solomon said. “Because the cost of health care has gone up. The tax credits for those that were buying into Covered California is no longer there. So, we’re seeing that. We’re starting to see the (numbers) rising, and those people that are coming through our doors, that are uninsured.”
Solomon said while the Duck Dash is a fun and unique event in Santa Clarita, it also garners attention for important causes, and it brings awareness to the community about what Samuel Dixon does to help.
One thing Solomon wanted to stress to the community as well is that they need to let their friends, family, neighbors and others know that the organization is there to help the people who need it, especially during challenging times.
“Because you don’t know who might need the service. Three people down the line hear about us because you told somebody; they know somebody that knows somebody. And they get the mental health (services), the medical service, or dental, that’s going to help them stay well,” Solomon said.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, joined the festivities and said that the event is a great way to end the summer season.
Schiavo said she looks forward to seeing all the ducks everywhere and that it brings a smile to her face.
“I love how many different ducks you see at this event. I mean, we just had a duck made out of balloons, a massive duck that someone is wearing walk by. There are other balloon ducks,” Schiavo said. “There’s the huge blow-up duck at the entrance. And then there’s the hundreds of ducks that come down the slide in the races. It’s so fun. It’s such a happy event. It brings a lot of joy and just humor and smiles to people’s faces. And so that’s always fun.”
Schiavo said that Samuel Dixon Center’s efforts in helping the community are important and that it is wonderful to see Santa Clarita rally behind them.
“Santa Clarita is such a special community, and one of the things that I love about it so much is that it’s really a community that comes together to support so many important causes and to help their neighbors. We need more of that in the world, and I’m grateful that I can represent a community that really leads with that kind of heart,” Schiavo said.
For the video, visit https://youtu.be/-nWtq8unUXw.
