Sara Achorn, Miss Plymouth County, eyed the dunk tank with trepidation. "I told the organizers I'd go in," she said with a laugh. "But I'm going home afterwards."

Achorn was in line for the dunk tank to aid a good cause - she had dropped by Rochester Cares, a fundraiser meant to help a family in need.

Sarah Jacques and Bethany Cusick organized Rochester Cares, a carnival-style fundraiser held on the grounds of Rochester Memorial School, to raise funds for the Tobin Family, who lost their High Street home in a July 4 fire.

Jacques and Cusick both have children moving into second grade at Rochester Memorial School, and know Nathan Tobin, who is the same age. "We have a Facebook group for parents of children in the class," Jacques explained. "Someone posted explaining what happened, and we knew we had to do something. We want the Tobins to know we support them, that the community cares."

"We weren't sure how many people we'd get," added Cusick, "but once we started asking, everyone just volunteered. It's the community we live in."

Volunteers at Rochester Cares staffed lemonade and popcorn stands, as well as games and crafts. Marion's Harbormaster Department stopped by with games. Even members of the Massachusetts State Police dropped in, alongside a special State Police convertible.

In the far field, a long line of children with painted faces queued for pony rides. Other children ran towards the giant bouncy castle - or toward the dunk tank. Rochester Police Department officers Shaun Peterson and Jason Denham took turns in the dunk tank, as did Rochester Memorial School principal Derek Medeiros and several other teachers.

Jacques said that the total amount of donations neared $3,500. "We didn't have a donation goal in mind," she explained. "The goal was whatever we could raise to help a family in need."

Video courtesy of the Rochester Police Department.