This Duck Day, make an impact that ripples across communities by supporting New Opportunities, Inc. — a trusted nonprofit Community Action Agency serving over 27 towns across Greater Waterbury, Meriden, and Torrington since 1964.
With a mission to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals, New Opportunities provides essential services that foster independence, stability, and hope for a brighter future.
A Lifeline of Support for 50,000+ People Annually
Whether it’s a warm home in winter, a healthy meal for a senior, or the first steps toward a new job, New Opportunities is there. Their life-changing programs include:
Energy Assistance & Weatherization — helping families stay warm and reduce utility costs through programs like CEAP and HES-IE.
Housing Services — providing rental assistance, homelessness prevention, and safe, supportive housing for vulnerable adults and youth.
Early Childhood Development — operating child development centers that give children ages 6 weeks to 5 years the tools to thrive.
Nutrition Services — offering Meals on Wheels and community meals to fight food insecurity with dignity.
Employment & Training — creating pathways to sustainable careers with vocational programs and job readiness support.
Community Support — delivering financial counseling, tax prep, and wraparound services to meet each family’s unique needs.
In 2024 alone, New Opportunities made a difference for more than 51,000 individuals and 24,000 households — and with your help, they can reach even more.
Participate in the Duck Day Raffle: Power a Path Forward
By purchasing a Duck Day Raffle ticket, you directly contribute to the vital work of New Opportunities. Your support helps heat homes, nourish families, educate children, and give individuals the tools to break the cycle of poverty.
Your Duck = Their Next Opportunity
Each ticket sold fuels programs that help people overcome hardship and build a better life. Whether you’re supporting housing, food, energy, or education, your contribution goes straight into lifting up our neighbors.
Quack for a Cause — Buy Your Duck Today!
Support New Opportunities, Inc. this Duck Day and be part of a powerful community movement. Together, we can empower futures, strengthen families, and create lasting change — one duck, one chance, and one opportunity at a time.
Make a splash for a good cause with a Duck Day Raffle Ticket! Each duck is just $5, and when you sponsor one, 50% of your purchase directly supports the charity featured on this page. Join us in a fun-filled race where every duck brings us closer to making a real difference in our community. Don’t miss your chance to win great prizes while helping those in need. Buy your duck today and watch it compete at Duck Day! Let’s quack the code on community support together—sponsor your duck now!
Individual Non-Profit ticket sales have ended, but there’s still time to enter your Duck into the 2025 Duck Day Race!
Click the link below to get tickets!
The 2025 Duck Day Race kicks off at 2pm on June 1st. Be sure to check the prizes page to check if you’re a winner!
Dive into the quacktastic world of Duck Day, an extraordinary event that has been making a splash since its creation in 2005 by the Naugatuck Chamber. The main event of the day is the Great Duck Day Race. Imagine over 20,000 rubber ducks joyously racing down the Naugatuck River, each one vying to be among the first 20 to cross the finish line and claim fabulous prizes. With the top prize of $5,000 awaiting one lucky ticket holder, the excitement is simply ducky!
But Duck Day is more than just a race; it’s a delightful festival that brings the heart of downtown Naugatuck to life! Maple and Water Streets are transformed into a vibrant wonderland where food and craft vendors tempt your taste buds, live music sets your feet tapping, and games and activities keep the kids giggling with joy. The festivities also offer a fantastic opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services to the enthusiastic crowd of over 5,000 attendees.
Beyond the fun and frolic, Duck Day carries a heartwarming mission to support the local community. Over the previous decades, this feather-filled celebration has helped more than 375 organizations raise nearly half a million dollars through the Duck Race fundraising activities.
Don’t miss your chance to join the flock of enthusiastic participants! Please note that Chamber employees are not eligible to participate in the draw. The more entries we receive, the quackier the race becomes, increasing your chances of being a winner! All participants must be over 16 years of age to enter this exciting event. So, grab your tickets and join us for a day of quacktastic fun and meaningful contributions to our community!
Welcome to the Duck Day 2026 Duck Duck Jeep! Competition
If you have any questions, please call the Chamber at 203-757-0701
Welcome to the DuckDay 2025 Food Vendor Application!
Thank you for your interest in being a part of Duck Day 2025! At this time, all food vendor spaces have been filled, and we are no longer accepting applications in this category.
We truly appreciate your enthusiasm and hope you’ll consider joining us next year. Registration for Duck Day 2026 will open in late March 2026, so please stay tuned and apply early to secure your spot at this beloved community celebration.
We look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the future and welcome you into the Duck Day family!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Chamber at 203-729-4511.
Welcome to the DuckDay 2026 Food Vendor Application!
We are thrilled to see your interest in joining us for what promises to be an unforgettable experience. At DuckDay, we celebrate diversity, creativity, and the joy of food, bringing together the best vendors to delight our guests.
However, please understand that space is limited, and in our quest to provide a wide variety of culinary delights, Duck Day Representatives reserve the right to review and select applications based on a variety of criteria. This process ensures that all our guests can enjoy a broad spectrum of flavors and experiences.
Key Points to Note:
*PLEASE NOTE: To ensure a diverse and unique culinary experience for all our guests, Duck Day Representatives reserve the right to limit the number of similar vendors and carefully curate the selection. This may mean that we cannot accommodate every application, as our aim is to prevent duplication and ensure a wide variety of options for our attendees.
No Initial Fees: There are no charges for applying. Billing details and participation fees will only be discussed and applied upon acceptance into DuckDay 2026.
We appreciate your understanding and enthusiasm. Our goal is to create an environment that celebrates food, community, and innovation. Thank you for considering being a part of DuckDay 2026. Here’s to creating a fantastic experience together!
If you have any questions, please call the Chamber at 203-757-0701
By submitting this form, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
If you have any questions, please call the Chamber at 203-757-0701