Turkey Plunge Raises Money for Shelter Island Library

More than 200 people converged on Crescent Beach Saturday for The Friends of the first ever Shelter Island Turkey Plunge, in which 70 brave plungers braved frigid air and water temperatures to raise money for a planned library renovation project.  

Although the money is still coming in, Friends Chairman, Sue Hine said that, to date, the event has raised more than $12,000 from underwriters, plungers and their sponsors. 

"Minus expenses, this Friends event will add over $11,000 to the library's 125th Anniversary Fund to renovate the lower level of the library," she said.  

It is the library's goal to raise $575,000 to cover costs associated with renovating the entire lower level of the library, located at 37 North Ferry Road. The renovation aims to accommodate additional programming space, quiet study space, shelving and a possible gallery area at the library.

According to Hine, the youngest plunger to participate in the event was 7-year-old Peter Del Col and the oldest was 85-year-old Marshall Numark She said that some of the participants traveled to Shelter Island from as far away as Albany, NY, Boston, MA, and Maryland.

"We could not have been happier with the turnout, energy and spirit," Library Director Denise DiPaolo said of the event. "The Library has a lot to be grateful for this holiday season."