Polar Bear Plunge Set for 19th Year, With Need for Support Greater Than Ever

It’s almost time to “get freezin’ for a great reason.”

The 19th annual Polar Bear Plunge is set for Saturday, December 10, at Coopers Beach in Southampton Village. For nearly two decades, the Plunge has been one of the marquee charity events in the village, raising money for Heart of the Hamptons, the nonprofit that started as a food pantry and has been providing food assistance and other support for community members in need for more than 40 years.

The Polar Bear Plunge is the main fundraiser for Heart of the Hamptons, accounting for roughly a third of its operating budget, and Executive Director Molly Bishop said that support is needed more than ever this year. Families and individuals still reeling from the ripple effects of the pandemic have also been contending with skyrocketing inflation during the last year, and Bishop said she and her colleagues are seeing that play out in real time.

“It would be hard to top last year’s Plunge, but we really need to,” she said. “This has been the busiest year in our 42-year history. We have already provided more meals’ worth of food than any year before, including 2020. We have had record numbers of new clients needing our services for the first time in their lives. The rising cost of everything — food, gas, utilities, and most certainly housing — has put a tremendous strain on many of our neighbors.”

The Plunge is crucial to ensuring that Heart of the Hamptons can continue to provide the support and services that so many residents in the area rely on, she said, especially during a time of year when they may be trying to make the holiday season bright for family and children, and ensure they have enough fuel to keep their homes warm as the cold sets in.

If putting resources toward that cause isn’t enough motivation, Bishop said the event still has plenty to give to people who participate.

“Without the support of this incredibly kind and generous community, we simply couldn’t meet the demand for our services,” she said. “Plus, it’s pretty much the most fun you’ll have this winter.”

Heart of the Hamptons offers its food pantry and assistance program to more than 1,600 households each year with the help of more than 100 volunteers, and an active board of directors. The assistance program services include a multi-faceted approach to crisis intervention, medical assistance funding, aid for seniors, and school supplies and summer lunches for schoolchildren.

Heart of the Hamptons also connects people in need with other resources available in the local community. Heart of the Hamptons works with the local schools, government and civic organizations, churches and other food pantries to make sure need is addressed wherever it arises.

There are other ways to support Heart of the Hamptons in the lead-up to the Plunge. For those who want to get their heart pumping before the Plunge, a pickleball tournament is set for Sunday, December 4, at SYS, and there is also a “Lunge Before the Plunge” workout class at Soma by Rodica on Hill Street in Southampton Village set for Monday, December 5. All proceeds from both will go directly to Heart of the Hamptons.

To sign up or donate, go to heartofthehamptons.org.