Plunging for a Purpose: Why you should take the plunge and pledge for Waypoint
May is a time to dive right in when it comes to supporting Waypoint. I say this literally, because we have our Plunging for a Purpose event coming up next week! It’s set to be a day that focuses on health, wellness, and, most importantly, advocacy for Waypoint’s services. Teams will be taking a plunge to spread awareness about ending homelessness, housing instability, violence, and poverty in our community.
The event itself is a new fundraiser to support our programs. Community members were encouraged to create teams of 5-7 individuals, with the goal of each team being to raise $1,000 to support our critical services. This event will take place at Newbo City Market on May 18, 9:00-11:00 a.m., with the following events:
- 9:00-10:30 a.m.: Check In
- 9:30-10:00 a.m.: Kids Yoga (free for community members)
- 10:15-10:45 a.m.: Kids and Adult AcroYoga (free for community members)
- 11:00 a.m.: Team Ice Plunge
I’ve been looking forward to taking a Plunge for Waypoint for so many reasons. First is because of how much I believe in the services that we offer. All our critical services save lives for people who are experiencing difficult hardships. Housing instability, domestic violence, and homicide are very much real, and they are impacting members of our community. Over the past five years, the need for our services has significantly grown, especially within our housing services. We are now serving 20,000 people across all our programs each year.
I think this new Waypoint fundraiser really touches on the spirit of innovation that Waypoint has always been graced with. In our early days as the YWCA, our agency had physical exercise classes for women and children. I like to think of this event as a subtle nod to that past emphasis on physical wellness, while also bringing a fun local opportunity to try cold plunging for health benefits.
After reviewing articles from different sources, I do think there’s something about an ice bath that helps us better regulate our stress and improve mental health long-term. I encourage checking out these sources:
- An article written by wellness podcaster Michael Kummer
- A New York Time article by Chloe Williams
- A health shot post by Will Stone
While this is a trending health activity, I also think it serves as a powerful way to take action to show support of causes you really believe in. Plunging for a Purpose stands out to me, and I believe it will for others too, because it is a demonstration of what stands we make and actions we will take for our ideals. In Waypoint’s case, it is always centered on moving people forward. After almost five years of working for Waypoint, I continue to believe in our services and the compassionate care my coworkers provide to individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, violence, and poverty.
Waypoint is the purpose I am willing to take an ice plunge for, and I hope you will consider it, too. If you are willing to form a team and rally some funding for a plunge go here or if you would like to help us hit our $40,000 fundraising goal for the event, please donate here.
- Thoughts by Jade Riley, Waypoint Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator
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