By Tom Renner
There’s nothing more refreshing than taking a dip in Lake Michigan.
But in January? When the water temp is 41 degrees and the air 23?
For Patrick Kaufmann and his three daughters it was well worth it as they ventured onto South Haven’s south beach on Saturday.
The snow fences stretching across the snow-covered beach were not an impediment in reaching the ice-crusted shoreline and “inviting” waves. They were on a mission.
The father and daughters took the albeit short polar plunge as a fund raiser for the Recovery Institute of Southwest Michigan. Their goal was to raise funds to buy warming items for unhoused individuals in the Kalamazoo area.
They reported having over $600 in pledges toward a $2,000 goal before sticking their toes in the water.
Kaufmann is a peer support coach with the Institute. He said in a Facebook posting promoting the event that taking the plunge would show the importance of being able to keep warm during the winter.
“We have people that come to the Recovery Institute that are literally still sleeping outside,” he wrote. “I’m going to be cold for a few minutes and then I’m going to warm up in our van and thank heaven that I have that opportunity, but not everybody has that.”
“There are people that are actually out there in the elements that not only need our resources, but our support, and just our humanity and to know that we care about them.”
