People in costumes will jump into river to support Willimantic soup kitchen [Video]

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Hundreds of community members wearing costumes will plunge into Willimantic’s frigid Natchaug River on Feb. 1 to raise money for the Covenant Soup Kitchen.

The 14th annual Olga Ezis Plunge for Hunger will take place that Saturday at noon at Lauter Park in Willimantic. Hundreds of local residents and students/staff from nearby Eastern Connecticut State University are set to take the plunge.

The event is sponsored by the ECSU men’s rugby club and led by coach Ray Aramini. Throughout its existence, the initiative has raised more than $1 million for the soup kitchen. The 2024 plunge raised $104,000, and Aramini says the goal is set at $100,000 again this year.

In a release, Aramini spoke fondly of the current rugby players …