Heart of the Hamptons is pleased to announce the return of its highly anticipated annual fundraiser, The Polar Bear Plunge, where hundreds of plungers – often in festive costumes – jump into the chilly water of the Atlantic Ocean to help support local people in need. This year’s plunge will take place at Cooper’s Beach in Southampton Village on Saturday, December 9th at 9:30am. Participants and fans will enjoy hot drinks and food in the Cooper’s Beach Pavilion after the plunge, and all plungers will receive a special Polar Bear Plunge hat.

Since the first Polar Bear Plunge in 2004, the event has raised more than $700,000 to support Heart of the Hamptons and its programs, which offer food, clothing, and assistance to over 1,500 people each year, including children, families, senior citizens, and veterans. Your support can help provide healthy summer lunch food for needy school children, send a cooked meal to a homebound or isolated resident, buy a pair of glasses for a local school child, purchase medical equipment, install a wheelchair ramp for a handicapped person, or brighten the holidays for a family with little to celebrate.

Those who would like to participate can sign up and collect pledges of support from sponsors (friends, family, co-workers, etc.), donate, or learn more HERE. All donations are welcome, and all help is extremely appreciated.

About Heart of the Hamptons: In 2003, Heart of the Hamptons became a non-profit organization registered with the state of New York, after having started more than 30 years ago with the launch of a small food pantry and an emergency assistance outreach in Southampton. Its headquarters, at 168 Hill Street in Southampton Village, is home to the Southampton Food Pantry (serving over 400 households, or 1100 people), the Clothing Room, and an outreach office for Executive Director Hilton Crosby.

Services include a multi-faceted Assistance Program offering crisis intervention, medical assistance funding, aid for seniors, school supplies and summer lunches for school children, and a meals program for the homebound. Heart of the Hamptons also connects people in need with resources available in our local community.

Heart of the Hamptons is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the state of New York with over 50 dedicated volunteers and an active Board of Directors. Heart of the Hamptons works hand-in-hand with the local schools, government and civic organizations, churches, and other food pantries to make sure the need is addressed wherever it arises. All volunteers and donations are welcomed.

HOH Mission: “The mission of Heart of the Hamptons is to help people in our local community who are in need, without discrimination, in a dignified manner. Find Heart of the Hamptons online HERE, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/heartofthehamptons/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/heartofthehamptons/, and at (631) 283-6415.