THE PLUNGE: River dippers raise money to Stop Hunger Now
Published 6:21 pm Saturday, January 31, 2015
![VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS FIRST ONES IN: Among the first to take the plunge were (left to right) Katherine Tate, Judy Vandorp, Hank Vandorp and John Tate.](https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/PLUNGE_02_WEB_MAIN.jpg)
VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS
FIRST ONES IN: Among the first to take the plunge were (left to right) Katherine Tate, Judy Vandorp, Hank Vandorp and John Tate.
Saturday afternoon, a group of hardy volunteers jumped into the Tar River in Washington to help raise money for Stop Hunger Now.
In a partnership with the national nonprofit, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Washington issued the Polar Challenge on the Pamlico to its parishioners — with each participant finding sponsorship in friends, family and those who just wanted to be a part of the fun. The intention was to raise $1,400. However, the challenge ended up raising close to $3,000, according to event organizer Judy Vandorp.
![VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT: Organizer Judy Vandorp thanks participants and onlookers before they took a dive in the river.](https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/PLUNGE_01_WEB.jpg)
VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT: Organizer Judy Vandorp thanks participants and onlookers before they took a dive in the river.
Amid lots of laughter, and a crowd of onlookers, and a fire to warm up swimmers after the fact, volunteers jumped off the dock at the Short Drive home of John and Katherine Tate just after 4 p.m. Clad in a variety of outfits, from sweatpants to bikinis, they quickly made their way through the chilly water to ladders on the bulkhead. Air temperature at the time was 43 degrees. Water temperature was approximately the same.
![VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS POLAR AND PATRIOTIC: Mary Parker Egbert in stars and stripes was joined by Bill Litchfield jumping off the dock at the home of John and Katherine Tate in Washington.](https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/PLUNGE_03_WEB1.jpg)
VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS
POLAR AND PATRIOTIC: Mary Parker Egbert in stars and stripes was joined by Bill Litchfield jumping off the dock at the home of John and Katherine Tate in Washington.
How was the water?
“Cold,” said Beth Michael.
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” said a shivering Laurel MacKenzie, who accessorized her plunge outfit with a pink tutu.
St. Peter’s intends to send the funds to Stop Hunger Now and receive in return a variety of packaged dried beans, rice, vitamins and other items for the church to sort, repackage and send back to the nonprofit. The food is sent to battle the hunger worldwide.
![VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS ACROBATIC: John Tate IV got a little creative when it came time for his polar plunger, performing a reverse back flip on his way into the river.](https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/PLUNGE_04_WEB.jpg)
VAIL STEWART RUMLEY | DAILY NEWS
ACROBATIC: John Tate IV got a little creative when it came time for his polar plunger, performing a reverse back flip on his way into the river.