Jumping into 2024: Connellsville Polar Bear Club collects items for city food bank
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All ages take part in the New Year's Day plunge into the Youghiogheny River in Connellsville. Evan Lemley of Hunker took his first dip in the river with his father, Bill and couldn't wait to make his way to the shore to bundle up.
Lori Padilla
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The Connellsville Polar Bear Club has many different participants who look to start their new year off with a chilly jump into the Youghiogheny River. Joe Adams, Bill Swan Food Bank volunteer, tugs on the beard of Santa Claus, surprised he's not on vacation following Christmas.
Lori Padilla
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Connellsville Community Ministries’ Bill Swan Food Bank benefitted from Monday’s polar bear plunge. Those who came to brave the cold temps brought nonperishable food items to donate. Courtney Frances, crisis manager
Lori Padilla
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Kelli Pettit of Uniontown marked her first plunge into the Yough by taking a selfie while in the water.
Lori Padilla
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Unable to make the morning plunge into the Yough River, Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln and his daughter Amelia – who needed a bit of fatherly encouragement – took a dip later in the day.
Lori Padilla
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The Connellsville Polar Bear Club has been sponsoring the annual plunge into the Youghiogheny River for the past 20 years as a way to start the new year. Original members (from left) George Eutsey, Mike Parlak, Frank Jacobyansky and Bruce Jaynes address the crowd on the shore before the rush into the river.
Lori Padilla
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Hundreds showed up in the morning flurries of New Year’s Day, ready to ring in 2024 with a quick dip into the Youghiogheny River.
Lori Padilla
The temperatures might’ve been cold Monday, but the atmosphere in Connellsville’s Yough River Park was warm.
Members of the Connellsville Polar Bear Club (and anyone brave enough to join them) brought nonperishable items for a city food bank that recently lost much of its stock.
On Dec. 16, a water main break at Connellsville Community Ministries, which houses the Bill Swan Food Bank, destroyed much of its food.
In addition to the food supply, the seven inches of water that accumulated in the basement also destroyed medical supplies and inventory for the CCM’s thrift store.
Before jumpers, numbering in the hundreds, prepared to plunge into the Youghiogheny River, they handed over food, hoping to help restock what was lost.
In its 20th year, the Jan. 1 plunge is a staple for those looking to welcome the new year with a splash.
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