Community Corner

Plunge Nets Over $7k for Food Pantries

Around 300 people took to the cold waters for the East Hampton Polar Bear Plunge on Tuesday.

The 11th annual East Hampton Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day raised over $7,000 for East Hampton food pantries.

Vicki Littman, an organizer, said the final total was $9,300, but after expenses, the amount raised was $7,400. Approximately 300 people took the plunge into the cold ocean water off Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett, she said.

  • RELATED: SHARE YOUR POLAR BEAR PLUNGE 2013 PHOTOS

"Regardless of how much money you raise it's heart warming to see the Ocean Rescue, Hurricane Swim Team, Lions Club, volunteers and the community coming out to support all of the food pantries," Littman said. "People say that I'm crazy to go in the frigid water, but its the support of the community for this great cause that makes you jump right into that freezing water."

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The East Hampton Food Pantry, which also runs a satellite in Amagansett, fed 921 households in November alone, the last month statistics were available. There are also food pantries in Wainscott, Montauk, and Springs. 

The event was moved back to Amagansett for the 2013 plunge because of erosion at Main Beach in East Hampton Village due to Superstorm Sandy.

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