MANCHESTER – It was overcast; a bit of rain fell but spirts were high nonetheless as more than two dozen plungers entered the chilly water of Harry Wright Lake for the recently held 13th Annual Penguin Plunge.
School staff, a plunge team from the police department and other members of the community braved the 47 degree waters of the lake all for a good cause. The plunge is a major fundraising event in support of Regional Day School which while based in Jackson Township, is overseen by the Manchester Township School District.
Before the plunge, folks gathered around the concession area to try their luck at winning several gift baskets placed on the picnic tables. It also gave the plungers a chance to get revved up for the lake water.
Barbara Sprechman, the coordinator of the Manchester Township Drug and Alcohol Alliance, spoke to residents prior to the plunge at the raffle basket area about the resources available to residents. For information on the Alliance, you can contact her at bsprechman@manchestertwp.com.
After conversation, some coffee, hot chocolate and cookies the cue to plunge came a few minutes early from the 1 p.m. start. The plungers included a rather large (costumed) penguin mascot who toddled over to the beach rather carefully. Then they all charged forward a short stretch into the lake.
Some dived right in, others leaped while others stomped into the water. Most however didn’t stay there for very long and did an about face to exit swiftly.
There were a few who were halfway back to dry land before others got wet. Some remained in the water for a bit longer.
Police Chief Antonio Ellis said officers take part in the plunge every year. The department puts out a call to join it and this year’s team answered the call. He was proud that the young officers continued the tradition.
Regional Day School Principal Lisa Michallis is another fixture at the event and she has plunged now for 13 years. “It’s 47 degrees with air temp at 52; we are very excited. We have an estimated 25 plungers. We have Manchester Township police department; the Manchester PAL is here serving up hot cocoa and cookies for the event. The penguin is here to make another appearance.”
“This is our 13th annual. After this week of 80-degree temperatures we were ready and then the forecast came in and it was cold and rainy. We had one year when the water temperature was warmer than the air temperature,” the principal said, noting that it was better than the year they were in snow-covered boots.
Last year’s weather was a brisk 50 degrees but it had the advantage of sunshine with no rain.
“We also have a bunch of gift baskets for the gift auction. We are up to 32 baskets we had some donations that came in today. We have staff plunging, families and we have some graduates here,” Michallis added.
The principal noted that the fundraising “is for the prom and graduation and our goal is $3,000 which would be great to offset the costs. We have had some years that have been as high as $6,500. The prom will once again be at the Clarion on Route 37 in Toms River.”
“We used to have it at the building and had a beautiful display with Alice in Wonderland. The Clarion is great to us. The prom is the Friday before Memorial Day and graduation is Friday June 5. We always do the graduation before the rest of the district.
Superintendent Diane Pedroza expressed gratitude to the many staff and community members who were there supporting the event. “We’re so grateful to the volunteers.”
