Fishing Club Collects Thousands Of Dollars For Ocean City Food Cupboard

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Records were broken as visitors to the Ocean City Fishing Club's two open houses at the pier this summer brought more food donations than ever before, the club announced in a news release.

At the end of last Thursday's two-hour open house 1,641 people filled barrels with 297 pounds of non-perishable food and donated $2,200 to help stock the Ocean City Food Cupboard's shelves.

Combining this with the club's July open house totals, 3,381 pier visitors this year brought 497 pounds of food and donated $4,633 to help the Food Cupboard feed the needy.

“I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in a community that steps up to help those less fortunate,” said Augie Conte III, OCFC president. “Even in towns like ours—Shore towns with so many summer residents and visitors—there are still people who need help to put food on the table. We’re glad to host these open houses to help stock the food cupboard.”

Two more open house dates will be held in the summer of 2026, again from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors again are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or can make cash donations to help feed the needy. The open houses coincide with the city’s Thursday evening Family Night on the Boardwalk program.

At each open house, OCFC volunteers station themselves at various locations on the pier to answer questions and to help take photos for visitors with the Atlantic Ocean and Boardwalk as scenic backdrops.

The traffic onto the pier was steady and enthusiastic, with many expressing thanks to the club for welcoming them to tour the pier. The club has been holding open houses on the pier to benefit the Food Cupboard since its centennial celebration in 2013.

The OCFC, a private fishing club, has a strong commitment to community involvement through programs that include the open houses, the youth fishing tournament, OCHS scholarships and advocating for recreational fishing. Founded in 1913, it is the oldest, continually operating fishing club in the United States. The Ocean City Fishing Club opens its doors to the public twice a year, and the event is held in conjunction with the city’s Family Nights.