WAYNESBORO, Ga. — A handful of people came out Jan. 17 to take a leap for a good cause, jumping into the Burke County YMCA pool in 50-degree weather.
“I just love doing Polar Bear Plunges,” said Phillip Dominey, who stayed in the water and swam across the pool after hopping in. “The cold feels kind of good.”
A few people joined Dominey in swimming the width of the pool, but some jumped in and just as quickly climbed back out.
This was the first time the Burke County location of the non-profit held a Polar Plunge.
A lot of people think of the YMCA as just a fitness center, but it provides a variety of programs, according to Hannah Messner, aquatics director.
“I teach safety around water and go into schools,” she said.
The YMCA also has a program to provide beds to families in need and has after school programs that are important to working families with younger children.
YMCA memberships keep the lights on, but events like Saturday’s fuel the mission. One letter people often forget in YMCA is the C, she said.
“We are a Christian organization,” she said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
