United We Shiver will honor former United Way director

Event set for Saturday, Feb. 10, in Big Lake

United We Shiver is a free community event that has entertainment for every age.

It will be held at Lakeside Park in Big Lake on Saturday, Feb. 10.

This will be the third year that Sherburne County Area United Way has been putting on this event in Big Lake. It had previously been known as Shiver Elk River and run by the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce.

Since the event changed hands, it has raised nearly $70,000 for local nonprofits. This year with the help of the presenting sponsor, Fagen Home Team Remax Results, organizers say they have some great new things in store.

United We Shiver will continue to offer the family fun fest starting at noon that includes a sleigh ride, face painting, s’mores making kit, and hot cocoa making station.

There will now be a ball pit for children to start training to take the plunge for when they are old enough to face the icy waters, and an activity passport for prizes.

Also new are a paid keg toss and shoot-a-puck contest for prizes.

The winners will be announced at a new after-party at Lupulin Brewing in Big Lake following the plunge and BBQ Ribs Cook-Off.

The after-party will boast raffles, bands and a food truck. It is open to the public and children are welcome.

One very distinct difference for this year’s event will be the dedication it brings to the previous Sherburne County Area United Way Executive Director Joy Nadeau, who recently died. Nadeau was United Way’s executive director for more than 12 years.

“She had such a passion for education in young children. She prided herself on her background, being an early educator, and never lost sight of that through her tenure at the nonprofit. She was well-known in the community for her efforts in making the Sherburne County area a better place to live,” according to a press release from Sherburne County Area United Way.

The plunge will start with a few words from Nadeau’s family about what being a part of this community really meant to her.

A team, “Jump for Joy,” will be plunging in honor of Nadeau with the funds being donated to Sherburne County Area United Way’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library book program.

The organization funds this program to allow children under the age of 5 living in the area to get books sent directly to them for no charge.

There is still time to join the team to plunge or donate to those who are already signed up to plunge in Nadeau’s honor. Visit https://sherburneunitedway.org/unitedweshiver/ and click on the “Donate to Jumper” or “Register to Plunge.”

Kiser Construction is one of the participants and this year the team is taking the plunge for the Magnus Veterans Foundation.

Plunge participants start jumping at 2 p.m.