With the forecast calling for bright sunshine and temperatures in the 50s, Saturday is shaping up to be a perfect day to take a dip in Lake Winnipesaukee while helping to support the Laconia Salvation Army.

Registration for the fifth annual Salvation Army Turkey Plunge begins Saturday at 10 a.m. at Endicott Rock Park Beach in The Weirs, followed by the plunge at high noon. Plungers, both teams and individuals, pay an entry fee and gather pledges to benefit the Salvation Army.

Local radio personality Pat Kelly will announce plungers as they go into the water. After the event, all registered plungers — whether they immersed themselves entirely in the Big Lake, dipped just a toe in or merely looked on from the beach — will enjoy chili, soup and chowder at the Weirs Beach Lobster Pound Restaurant. The public can join the plungers for lunch by making a $5 donation.

At the Lobster Pound, there will be food provided by Patrick's Pub & Eatery, "O" Steak & Seafood, Fratello's, Kitchen Cravings, T-Bones and Hart's Turkey Farm. Beverages are courtesy of the Coca-Cola Co. of the Lakes Region and Culinary Arts students from Lakes Region Community College will serve homemade desserts.

The public is invited to go and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate from Lago restaurant and to watch the colorful spectacle, which will include a competition for most colorful and creative costume as well as for most money raised.

Those wishing to make donations but who don't want to take the plunge will be able to put them into a Salvation Army red kettle at the beach.

"This is going to be a fun day," said Capt. Scott Flanders, who with his wife and fellow captain Leslie Flanders, leads the Laconia Salvation Army.

Despite a decrease in the number and amount of corporate sponsorships, which he believes may be related to the downturn in the economy, Flanders is heartened that the 2009 plunge will feature several new teams, including groups from Laconia, Belmont and Inter-Lakes high schools as well as veteran teams like that from Holland Hill Studio.

The plunge has raised an average of $18,000 a year since its inception and Flanders is hoping to match or, ideally, to exceed that amount.

The Turkey Plunge is the segue into the Laconia Salvation Army's primary fundraising season which takes place during the month of December when, through its kettle campaign and other efforts, it brings in about 20 percent of its approximately $550,000 annual budget.

Every dollar is "mission critical," said Flanders, adding that the Salvation Army has seen an increased demand for services since last year. In Laconia, the Salvation Army operates the Carey House, the only emergency shelter north of Concord, as well as a gamut of emergency services including a food pantry and soup kitchen — which recently expanded to serve the hungry on Saturdays — and a thrift store.

Annually, the Salvation Army helps some 50 local residents pay their mortgages, rent, car repair or fuel bills; it serves 11,000 meals in its soup kitchen; it puts up 300 people at the Carey House; and it provides food to 500 families. The Salvation Army sends more than 30 children to summer camp each year and makes sure that more than 100 families have a merry Christmas by providing food and children's gifts.

"The need is growing," said Flanders, and the faces of those in need is changing.

Among the families that have signed up so far for the Christmas assistance, 60 of them are new "and it's the same with our food pantry," Flanders added, which is why so much depends on making the Turkey Plunge, and all of the local Salvation Army fundraisers, successful.

For more information about the Salvation Army Turkey Plunge, visit any Meredith Village Savings Bank branch or call the Salvation Army at 524-1834.

The Salvation Army is a federally registered non-profit agency. Tax-deductible contributions to the Laconia Salvation Army may be mailed to: Salvation Army, PO Box 326, Laconia NH 03247.

On-line donations, which can be directed to the Laconia Salvation Army by entering the above zip code, may be made at www.salvationarmyusa.org.