Friends of CAM brave icy waters to fight hunger

Community leaders and friends of Christian Action Ministries have recently been braving the icy waters of Lake Taneycomo as part of the third annual Plunge for Hunger, raising funds to support the local nonprofit in its mission to address food insecurity in Taney and Stone counties. 

This year’s event was structured a little differently than in the past, with different teams scheduled for different days and each team working to raise at least $5,000. Again this year, the plunges are hosted by Lilley’s Landing, which also provides a boat to transport the plunging participants out onto the lake for their frigid splash followed by a quick swim to the dock for waiting towels and warm robes. 

Those of us who boat and fish on Lake Taneycomo know there is no good day for a swim, with the cold water pouring from the bottom of Table Rock Dam even in the summer, but seeing chunks of snow along the shoreline takes it to a whole new level of bravery and commitment to the cause! 

On Saturday, January 4, a group of friends from the area BNI networking group, along with two CAM staff members, kicked things off as the first team. Things got even icier with complicated weather—after all, it’s January in the Ozarks, which can mean anything or nothing—but another sunny day on Tuesday, January 7, greeted the Bank of Missouri team, who jumped as a group wearing their superhero capes. On Monday, January 13, a team from Silver Dollar City hit the icy waters. 

Christian Action Ministries has been the vision of a group of Branson area churches since 1984, when several churches met to discuss addressing the growing needs in the area in a more structured and efficient way. This January 3 marked the opening of a market-style, full-choice pantry at the Branson location, 2400 St. Hwy. 165, joining the similarly-styled pantry which opened in the expanded Forsyth location in 2024. The market style pairs families with volunteer shopping assistants, using a guided list as they visit the various aisles to choose products that best meet their family’s needs. Additional mobile pantry events are held in partnership with churches and nonprofits at outlying distribution points. An updated pantry schedule is available on the Facebook page. 

With schedule changes due to the weather, it’s not too late to add your donation to the funds for more teams planning to do the polar plunge this week and next! Visit https://www.christianactionministries.org or the Facebook page for the link to make your gift, and stay tuned for Facebook Live events featuring teams from the Hollister Chamber and Church 3:16, plus Kirk Elmquist and Phil Lilley. Thanks to these brave teams and individuals for their dedication to serve our neighbors in need!