KAWARTHA LAKES-On May 4th, the Force was strong in Kawartha Lakes.
The 5th Annual Jump in the Lake Challenge (JILC) raised more than $25,000 for local food banks in Coboconk and Haliburton. Unlike other organized Polar Bear Dips, participants jumped into the frigid early May waters from their own docks or local piers.
A few hundred generous donors and many brave participants raised much-needed funds to battle hunger.”What a generous and supportive community we live in,” said Coboconk and Area Food Bank chairperson Amy Alfredsson. “With more than $20,000 in cash and food donations collected and more still coming in, the JILC has provided the funds to pay meat purchases for almost an entire year.”
Alfredsson, who jumped into a frigid Balsam Lake herself, added the foodbank would not exist without generous community support.
“The funds raised and the food collected will go a very long way in feeding our CAFB families,” she added. “Thank you for your participation in and donations made to the Jump in the LakeChallenge again this year.”
In five years the annual Jump in the Lake Challenge has raised over $175,000 for the local community.
“We continue to be amazed how our community has embraced what has now become a fun, annual event,” said JILC founder Dean Michel. “When you combine brave individuals and generous donors, good things happen to make a difference in people’s lives”
There is still time to donate at www.kawarthalakeside.com and click “Get Involved”
If you know of someone who would benefit from accessing the food bank, please have them go to coboconkfoodbank.org or email [email protected]
