Costume-wearing fanatics will plunge into icy river in support of Willimantic soup kitchen

14th annual Plunge for Hunger scheduled for Feb. 1

Willimantic, CT (01/23/2025) — (*Photos of last year's Plunge in links below)

Hundreds of Eastern and Willimantic community members are set to dive into the icy waters of the Natchaug River on Feb. 1 for the 14th annual Olga Ezis Plunge for Hunger, a fundraiser to benefit the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic. The event will take place at 12 p.m. at Lauter Park in Willimantic.

The Plunge is sponsored by the men's rugby club at Eastern Connecticut State University and spearheaded by coach Ray Aramini. Over the years, Aramini estimates that the Plunge has raised more than $1 million dollars for the soup kitchen. Last year's Plunge raised $104,000, according to Aramini, with this year's goal again set at $100,000.

Aramini is proud of current rugby players and alumni who continue to participate in the Plunge. "They assuredly are the backbone and muscle that make this event go so smoothly and have since the beginning," he said. "They come back year after year to support Covenant Soup Kitchen and each other. I couldn't be prouder."

Since its inception, the Plunge has grown in popularity, drawing numerous student organizations and community members to participate in the rollicking event, punctuated by costume-wearing fanatics charging into the freezing cold river.

Costumes are encouraged but not required. Donations for the soup kitchen may be made on the Covenant Soup Kitchen website: https://www.covenantsoupkitchen.org/polar_plunge.htm

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.