Many helped make Big Freeze a success

The fourth annual Big Freeze was held Feb. 16 at Edgewater Bay Pavilion, the second year for this location. We were fortunate to have a beautiful day for all of the events that were held.

Thank you, Mayo Clinic Health System, for your contribution as our major sponsor. We would not be able to accomplish this event without the financial support and in-kind donations. Thank you to the following businesses and organizations involved with the Big Freeze: city of Albert Lea, Albert Lea Parks & Recreation, Albert Lea Fire Department, Albert Lea Electric, Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau, Albert Lea Seed House, Country Inn & Suites, EZ Rental, Fountain Lake Sportsman’s Club, Freeborn County Jaycees, Geneva Bar & Grill, Southern MN Skydiving LLC, State Farm Insurance-Nancy Vanderwaerdt, Thompson Sanitation, Freeborn County Snowmobile Club, Taco King, Redline Entertainment DJ & Karaoke, VFW and police explorers Wyatt Manges, Ty Neilson, Matt Judd and Nate Hogstad.

We send thanks to the Albert Lea Tribune, KATE/KCPI, Power 96, Freeborn County Shopper and KIMT for plugging this event and Teresa Kauffman and Dan Borland for our website, Facebook and video production.

The medallion hunt sponsored by Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce during the week of the event worth $300 in chamber bucks went to Nate Johnson and Holly Nelson.

The Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club’s annual Take A Kid Ice Fishing handed out free ice fishing jigging sticks and buckets to more than 120 kids and collected 100 pounds of nonperishable food.

The disc golf tournament organized by Tim Engstrom drew 44 participants and collected 381 pounds of nonperishable foods. Congratulations to the winner, Clay Ebertowski.

The snowmobile radar runs were back this year and the winner, Jamie Neilon, reached a speed of 114 mph.

The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Jaycees chili cookoff contest collected 60 pounds of food. Congratulations to the winners: first place Wende Taylor, second place Tom Guggisberge and third place Kisti Skaar.

The kid’s geocaching gives thanks to Steve and Amy Patten had 20 participants and the kids carnival hosted by Jenny Davis of Park & Rec had more than 100 kids.

The wagon rides were provided by Todd Bergland collected 85 pounds of nonperishable foods. Thank you to Shelly Burkard and educators from the Albert Lea Area Schools for organizing the lines and collecting donations.

The popular polar plunge event organized by Albert Lea Fire Department’s Scott Hanna and his crew drew a record 167 participants jumping into the freezing waters! Bragging rights went to:

District 241 teachers and staff. “Pennies for Plunge Challenge” raised $1,000 and 18 teachers and staff took the plunge!

Cargill Employees collected 583 pounds of food and $374.

The Big Freeze raised a total of 1,658 pounds of nonperishable foods for the Salvation Army and Ecumenical Food Pantry at First Presbyterian Church along with cash donations to the Salvation Army and Red Cross. Your kindness and generosity will continue to touch many lives.

 The Big Freeze Committee

 

Thanks for donations

I would like to thank all the people who donated money for my children, Jessica and Tony, to purchase hospital beds, a stove and other expenses for our family: DuWayne and Margie Kirchner for a hospital bed; St. John’s Lutheran Home employes who helped with the benefit; the Rev. Joel Vano of Zion Lutheran Church for the door offering; Larry Fisher of Fisher’s Jewelers; Chad Vogt with Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen; the Albert Lea branch of Thrivent for Lutherans, especially Paul Anderson and Vern Strand and the board for their support; the Faribault County chapter of Thrivent for Lutherans, particularly Linda Steinhauer, Thrivent representative and the board for their support; the Tribune; Greg Reese with Ecowater for a free bag of salt for the softener; Assistant Manager Steve Reed of Home Depot for the stove discount; Steve Shahan of Hy-Vee for a turkey and the Noon Kiwanis Club, particularly Rhonda Allison, for their January happy dollars.

 

Jodi Trujillo

Wells