Metro-east Polar Plunge shocks jumpers for a good reason
A crowd of 200 gathered in Collinsville on Friday to see people jump into a dumpster full of water as part of the annual Polar Plunge.
The Polar Plunge took place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars location in Collinsville and serves as a Special Olympics Illinois fundraiser. It was the 27th year of the event, with 27 locations participating throughout February and March.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Tim Stempel, the plunge director for this area.
“Every dollar donated goes to getting these athletes to sporting events free of charge — and every month of the year.”
The event began at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and by the start roughly $30,000 had been raised, according to Stempel. Milstadt police raised the most, with $4,620. Registration was $10, and the “plungers” received free hoodies upon completion — a much needed item after getting soaked in 37-degree weather. Last year, the 27 total events throughout Southern Illinois raised more than $3 million and attracted more than 10,000 participants.
Instead of jumping into a natural body of water, the plunge took place in a RedBox dumpster in the VFW parking lot — earning the unofficial nickname of the “Dumpster Plunge” from those coordinating the event. Participants wearing a wide range of costumes — from simple team t-shirts to alien and superhero costumes — leapt into 50 degree water that was more shocking to get out of than to go into.
Another plunge is happening next weekend in Carlyle, which according to coordinators, usually draws a larger crowd. For more information on that event, visit this link.
This story was originally published February 22, 2026 at 6:00 AM.