'Poultry Plunge' Raises Money for Special Olympics
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Forty hearty souls got a jump on "Giving Tuesday" by jumping into Onota Lake Saturday in order to give to a good cause.
Law enforcement officers from throughout Berkshire County sponsored a "Poultry Plunge" to benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts.
It is the fifth time the Pittsfield Police, Berkshire County sheriff's office and other agencies have combined to hold such an event but the first time it has taken place in November. The former "Polar Plunge" was moved from February to the fall and rebranded appropriately for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
"The participation level was down, but it was manageable for our first year, and we treat it as a first-year event," Pittsfield Police Officer Daniel Derby said.
"We've been doing it in February the last few years, but a lot of places do it now for logistics reasons and safety reasons. We figured it was probably a smart idea to switch it to November."
More than three dozen people, some in holiday costumes, decided to take the plunge while dozens more cheered them on from the shore and took photos. Derby and his team of volunteers were on hand to provide warming blankets, and a trained diver was in the lake in case any "plungers" had any distress during the event.
Fortunately, everyone got in and out of the water safely — and quickly.
And the Special Olympics program benefited to the tune of $4,250.
Berkshire County officers involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Program for Special Olympics have raised more than $500,000 over the last seven years through various fundraising endeavors including Cop on Top, to be held in December when officers camp out on top of Walmart in Pittsfield. That event raised more than $60,000 in 2015.
The $4,250 collected on Saturday at Burbank Park is down from the $50,000 the event raised in Year 2, but the final tally should rise in the future as residents and holiday visitors discover and rediscover this fun, challenging event.
"Hopefully, in years to come, people will make this a family event -- like, 'Hey, every year, we'll take the plunge,'" Derby said.
Tags: fundraiser, law enforcement, plunge, Special Olympics,
