Hundreds Expected At East Hampton Ocean Rescue And East Hampton Hurricanes’ New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge

On New Year’s Day, get ready to be “freezin’ for a reason” at 1 p.m. when the annual East Hampton Polar Bear Plunge is held at Main Beach in East Hampton. East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue and the YMCA East Hampton RECenter’s Hurricanes Swim Team are once again challenging the community to start the New Year with a quick dip in the ocean, for a good cause, of course. Proceeds from the event will support the East Hampton Food Pantry.

“The food pantries are forever grateful to East Hampton Ocean Rescue and the East Hampton Hurricanes Swim Team who organize the event, as it does raise the money that we desperately need going into our winter months,” noted Vicki Littman, Polar Bear Plunge Chair.

The Food Pantry’s mission is to “address hunger in the town of East Hampton.” In the East Hampton and Amagansett area, the Food Pantry assisted 2,251 families this year. Of the 7,668 people they helped, 65 were new clients.

The Plunge has turned into a beloved tradition for many. “It’s been a very successful event. Last year, we had over 400 participants,” Littman noted. “So, it really has become a successful, community fundraiser that we all look forward to going into the New Year.”

Since it’s all in good fun, attendees are encouraged to come donning a costume and those with the most creative outfits will be awarded a prize. The event will also include a 50/50 raffle, apparel for sale, food and refreshments.

The Food Pantry is incredibly grateful for the support they receive from the community and East Hampton Village. “We’d like to thank Mayor Paul Rickenbach, he leads us – he starts the plunge every year. So we’re very thankful for his support, that he’s shown the food pantries over the years.”

Registration for the Polar Bear Plunge begins at 11:30 a.m. The entry fee is a $35 donation, although participants are encouraged to raise as much as possible for the Food Pantry.

For those not in the Hamptons the weekend of the Polar Bear Plunge, make sure to catch the action live on the Hamptons.com Main Beach Camera.

Main Beach is located at 101 Ocean Avenue in East Hampton. For more information, call 631-324-2300 or visit easthamptonfoodpantry.org.