Sign up now for Mat-Su Plunge

PALMER — If for reasons mysterious to those on shore you intend to jump into a frozen lake this year, get in line.

Again this year the Mat-Su Plunge will take place on Wasilla Lake at Wasilla Lake Resort. Folks can sign up to jump or pledge money at matsuplunge.org.

The event, which features silly costumes and lots of cheering, is a fundraiser for Mat-Su Sertoma, which passes the money raised to worthy nonprofits. Two nonprofits were selected again this year, and both of them help children.

“It’s all about the kids this year, it seems,” Sertoma President Paula Nance said.

• Food 4 Kids, formerly the Children’s Lunchbox, prepares and delivers meals and snacks to Valley kids. Children receive the meals at places like the Wasilla Boys and Girls Club and the Sutton Library. The program operates under the umbrella of the Mat-Su Food Bank, formerly Wasilla Food Pantry. It served 65,000 meals to 300 children last year.

• Pop Warner Football and the Mat-Su Sea Hawkers Booster Club will use the money to outfit and field three additional teams.

“It will impact 75 kids in that league year after year,” Nance said.

If you haven’t attended the plunge or, like this reporter, actually jumped into a hole in frozen Wasilla Lake, you might be unaware of the festive atmosphere. This year the event comes complete with a live band — Element 47 — and, as always, color commentary on the public address system.

“It’s just a great opportunity to have a lot of fun,” Nance said. “It’s a great family event. We’ll have crazy hair and face painting.”

She said the resort has undergone some renovations recently.

“If folks haven’t seen Wasilla Lake Resort since they did some upgrades, it’s worth taking a look at. They even have chandeliers in the dining room,” Nance said.

She said the event has grown each year. At this point, organizers are planning for things like a plowed parking lot on the lake and moving registration downstairs so the dining room is freed up for spectators.

“Volunteers are coming out of the woodwork and it’s just a great family event to come and watch,” Nance said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.

What: Mat-Su Plunge

Where: Wasilla Lake Resort.

When: Feb. 15, plungers take to the water at noon.

To sign up, visit matsuplunge.org. Links for setting up a donation page are at the bottom of the page.