Dozens Take The Plunge For Hunger
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Dozens Take The Plunge For Hunger
By David [email protected]
Hundreds more watched from the sidelines as groups of people took turns going into the icy cold water beginning at about 12:45 p.m. Women went first, with men following bravely behind.
The Kosciusko County Dive Team, North Webster Emergency Medical Services and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources all were on hand to make sure everyone was safe.
The Polar Bear Plunge had 80 people participate in 2010. The event benefits the North Webster Food Pantry. Pie-Eyed Petey's is co-owned by Roy and Barb Hamer.
This morning, Barb said they collected a whole trailer full of food. The monetary donations were still coming in and had not been counted yet.
For Saturday's Plunge, people came from all across Indiana and beyond.
Matt and Haley Fletcher traveled from Greenfield to take the plunge with their friends who live in North Webster.
Haley said she was doing it "for charity, and to get my bathing suit back on."
"I've got a Spider-Man outfit and a cape, and I'm doing it for my country," said Matt, enjoying some beverages before the plunge.
The Fletchers come up to North Webster to visit their friends, including Melissa Cripe, and decided to return for the plunge.
"I talked her into doing it," Cripe said. "We've been talking about it since last summer."
Susan Helms, who turns 50 this year, took the plunge for the first time Saturday. She started considering doing it about 30 days ago, she said.
"My heart and soul, and a lot of good friends, and probably a few more Bloody Marys," Helms said as to why she decided to do it.
Leesburg's Sherie Baugher was one of the people who chose just to watch from the sidelines.
"They can't guarantee my heart won't stop in that cold of water, otherwise, we both would do it," she said. "I came here to watch, I come here a lot. Last year they had a 70-year-old man do it. He came out like it was nothing."
Korey Green, Warsaw, took part for the second year.
"I like that Barb gives half of the proceeds to charity and supports the food bank. I did it last year and this is my place to go," said Green.
Adam and Jessie Stromatt and Lisa Hall, all of Pierceton, were doing it together.
"There's a group of us who are suppose to jump in," Jessie said.
"A few reasons," Macy Moore, Warsaw, said, as to why she participated for a second year. "Good cause, fun and entertainment."
"I'm not scared of the water this year, but of the unique outfit I plan to wear. It's a little embarrassing."
The outfit she wore included plungers over her bikini top and on her head. Her friend, Tyson Niles, Syracuse, wore the same outfit.
"We want to win!" Niles said. Pie-Eyed Petey's was handing out "best costume" trophies for the top male and top female. "We want to win something big!"
Niles and Moore won the women's category for best costume.
Winning best costume for men was a group of six guys with their faces painted white and t-shirts that spelled out "Pie-Eye" on the front and "Petey's" on the back.
Though Karen White, North Webster, attended the event in 2010, this was the first year she actually took the plunge.
"Because last year I backed out, I got nervous," White said.
She finally decided to do it this year because "the pressure of other people, and it's for a good cause."
For her outfit, White wore her Halloween costume.
"I'm a nun because it was my Halloween costume, and I wanted to use it again," she said.
Miles Wagoner and Brent White, both from North Webster, went into the water together dressed as a white horse.
"As my cousin Brent went in last year, I felt obligated to do it this year," said Wagoner. "I felt left out."
He said they chose the white horse costume just because it was "something different."
"It's an awesome charity event, so we're here to support the food drive," said White.
Clay Eppley, Warsaw, decided to participate because of his friend Mike Nave, South Whitley.
"I said, 'yeah, I'm doing it, come do it,'"said Nave.
Eppley and Nave participate in cage fighting together, so the event was something else they could do together.
Another second-timer Saturday was Mike Mettham, Leesburg. He gave a sarcastic answer when asked why he was going in again.
"Cause it was so much fun the first time," Mettham said. "I had to do it again. It's not as bad as I thought the first time. I've become a Polar Bear Plunge veteran. I'm using this as a stepping stone to do an actual Arctic Polar Plunge."
"We came last year and watched," said Cody Kindle, Warsaw. "We were like, we're doing it this year."
"I'm a little nervous," said Danielle Tat, Kindle's partner, of how cold it was.
"I think the water is worse than the air," Kindle responded.
By 12:27 p.m., the 100th person, Jon Dobbelaere, of Paulding, Ohio, had signed up. He said he was doing it for the "fun" of it.[[In-content Ad]]
Hundreds more watched from the sidelines as groups of people took turns going into the icy cold water beginning at about 12:45 p.m. Women went first, with men following bravely behind.
The Kosciusko County Dive Team, North Webster Emergency Medical Services and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources all were on hand to make sure everyone was safe.
The Polar Bear Plunge had 80 people participate in 2010. The event benefits the North Webster Food Pantry. Pie-Eyed Petey's is co-owned by Roy and Barb Hamer.
This morning, Barb said they collected a whole trailer full of food. The monetary donations were still coming in and had not been counted yet.
For Saturday's Plunge, people came from all across Indiana and beyond.
Matt and Haley Fletcher traveled from Greenfield to take the plunge with their friends who live in North Webster.
Haley said she was doing it "for charity, and to get my bathing suit back on."
"I've got a Spider-Man outfit and a cape, and I'm doing it for my country," said Matt, enjoying some beverages before the plunge.
The Fletchers come up to North Webster to visit their friends, including Melissa Cripe, and decided to return for the plunge.
"I talked her into doing it," Cripe said. "We've been talking about it since last summer."
Susan Helms, who turns 50 this year, took the plunge for the first time Saturday. She started considering doing it about 30 days ago, she said.
"My heart and soul, and a lot of good friends, and probably a few more Bloody Marys," Helms said as to why she decided to do it.
Leesburg's Sherie Baugher was one of the people who chose just to watch from the sidelines.
"They can't guarantee my heart won't stop in that cold of water, otherwise, we both would do it," she said. "I came here to watch, I come here a lot. Last year they had a 70-year-old man do it. He came out like it was nothing."
Korey Green, Warsaw, took part for the second year.
"I like that Barb gives half of the proceeds to charity and supports the food bank. I did it last year and this is my place to go," said Green.
Adam and Jessie Stromatt and Lisa Hall, all of Pierceton, were doing it together.
"There's a group of us who are suppose to jump in," Jessie said.
"A few reasons," Macy Moore, Warsaw, said, as to why she participated for a second year. "Good cause, fun and entertainment."
"I'm not scared of the water this year, but of the unique outfit I plan to wear. It's a little embarrassing."
The outfit she wore included plungers over her bikini top and on her head. Her friend, Tyson Niles, Syracuse, wore the same outfit.
"We want to win!" Niles said. Pie-Eyed Petey's was handing out "best costume" trophies for the top male and top female. "We want to win something big!"
Niles and Moore won the women's category for best costume.
Winning best costume for men was a group of six guys with their faces painted white and t-shirts that spelled out "Pie-Eye" on the front and "Petey's" on the back.
Though Karen White, North Webster, attended the event in 2010, this was the first year she actually took the plunge.
"Because last year I backed out, I got nervous," White said.
She finally decided to do it this year because "the pressure of other people, and it's for a good cause."
For her outfit, White wore her Halloween costume.
"I'm a nun because it was my Halloween costume, and I wanted to use it again," she said.
Miles Wagoner and Brent White, both from North Webster, went into the water together dressed as a white horse.
"As my cousin Brent went in last year, I felt obligated to do it this year," said Wagoner. "I felt left out."
He said they chose the white horse costume just because it was "something different."
"It's an awesome charity event, so we're here to support the food drive," said White.
Clay Eppley, Warsaw, decided to participate because of his friend Mike Nave, South Whitley.
"I said, 'yeah, I'm doing it, come do it,'"said Nave.
Eppley and Nave participate in cage fighting together, so the event was something else they could do together.
Another second-timer Saturday was Mike Mettham, Leesburg. He gave a sarcastic answer when asked why he was going in again.
"Cause it was so much fun the first time," Mettham said. "I had to do it again. It's not as bad as I thought the first time. I've become a Polar Bear Plunge veteran. I'm using this as a stepping stone to do an actual Arctic Polar Plunge."
"We came last year and watched," said Cody Kindle, Warsaw. "We were like, we're doing it this year."
"I'm a little nervous," said Danielle Tat, Kindle's partner, of how cold it was.
"I think the water is worse than the air," Kindle responded.
By 12:27 p.m., the 100th person, Jon Dobbelaere, of Paulding, Ohio, had signed up. He said he was doing it for the "fun" of it.[[In-content Ad]]
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