UAW 2250 members take icy dip to raise funds for Special Olympics

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CHILLIN’ FOR CHARITY – UAW Local 2250 took a freezing plunge into Lake St. Louis Feb. 6 as part of their efforts that raised $7,500 for Missouri Special Olympics. Coming quickly out of the water are (from left) Local 2250 President Fred Jamison, Chrissy Wait, Justin Larsen, Jack Brinkman, Sheldon Svuba, Shawn Kohrs, Scott Whitman, Steve Newell, Ronnie Spears, John Spears, Kevin Fitzgerald, Scott Wilson, and Rachel Redmon. Longtime organizer Dave Hurst did not take the plunge this year, but it couldn’t have happened without him. – Photo courtesy of Melissa Mitchell, co-chair of Local 2250’s Community Services Committee

Lake St. Louis – February’s frigid temperatures weren’t enough to keep members of UAW Local 2250 and managers at the GM Wentzville Assembly Plant from taking an icy cold plunge Feb. 6 to raise funds as part of the 18th Annual Polar Plunge here to benefit Special Olympics Missouri.

The plunge, on a day when the high temperature in St. Louis reached only 31 degrees, was the culmination of a three-day charity drive that included drive-by donations at the union hall and online collections, reports Darin Gilley, Local 2250’s financial secretary-treasurer.

“Due to COVID restrictions, there was no fundraising in the plant,” Gilley said. “But we were still able to collect over $7,500 for Missouri Special Olympics.”

Local 2250 has participated in the Polar Plunge event every year since its inception as part of the extensive efforts through its Community Service Committee. Proceeds from the event benefit Special Olympics Missouri’s year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. For more information, visit somo.org.

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