‘Freezin’ for a reason’ raises funds for heating help this winter

WILTON – Hardy polar plungers raised about $1,500 to help with heating costs for those in need at an event held Saturday at Wilson Lake.

The second annual Polar Plunge benefit for Western Maine Community Action’s programs to aid in helping low income families with purchasing heating fuel this winter was held this year on an unusually warm, 62-degree day. But veteran plungers noted the water was much colder this year than last year and thought it was possibly due to the several inches of rain that fell over the past week.

A crowd gathered around the hardy swimmers urging them on and at the stroke of 2 p.m., the group stepped into the lake at Bass Park. Some dove in, while others slowly walked in and then disappeared under the blue water for a qualified swim.

All of the swimmers and a fair number of non-swimming “chickens,” together raised pledges that totaled about $1,500, said organizer Danielle Flannery of WMCA. It was Flannery who came up with the “Freezin’ For a Reason” event last year.

Those families that will be helped by the event, “are in a cold situation and this is a good reminder,” said a chilly Bill Crandall of Farmington after his swim.

As the polar plungers swam, an unidentified woman stopped by and handed a $100 bill to the event’s organizers.

“She said, ‘this is for everyone who jumped in,'” Pat Morse of WMCA said  and added, “That means a lot.”