Alfond Youth Center Polar Plunge Was A Frigid Success!

Saturday morning out on Snow Pond in Sidney, hundreds gathered for the annual 'Polar Bear Dip' and pond hockey tournaments.

This year the event was held at a new location out at the New England Music Camps in Sidney. What a great change of venue! When I arrived, Leo St. Peter from Arbor Technologies in Waterville was there with a massive chainsaw cutting a hole into the ice that must have been at least 2 feet thick. Finally he made it through and the hole had been made. One by one, teams came up and we counted them down to jumping into the ice-cold water. We had people in bikinis, Halloween outfits and even people who were just fully-clothed. All in all it was another great success for the annual plunge.

To give you an idea of the increase in fund raising from last year to now, last year raised an impressive $1,500 dollars, and this year raked in a staggering $6,200! If you're wondering what all of these funds go towards, they're used to feed children in the aftercare programs in Waterville and Skowhegan. They serve on average 150 meals a day- about 40,000 a year. For many kids, this is the last hot meal they receive before bed time. So thank you thank you thank you to everyone who came out, raised money and dipped for an amazing cause. I was humbled to be part of it all again this year and can't wait to do it again next year. Hey, maybe I'll even jump in. Okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves!

If you would like to make a donation and help out, it's never too late, just click here.