Records Set At Ocean City Fishing Club Open House

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Three records were broken at the Ocean City Fishing Club's (OCFC) first open house of the summer, the club announced in a news release.

By the end of the two-hour open house at the pier, 1,750 people filled barrels with 290 pounds of non-perishable food and stuffed $2,433 into a huge jar, all headed to the Ocean City Food Cupboard.

That’s 730 more visitors, 70 pounds more food and $1,558 more money collected than at last year’s first open house, according to the club. In fact, the cash donate tops the amount given at last year’s two open houses combined by $190.

“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.”

The club will host a second open house at the Pier on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the following day as a rain date, if needed. Visitors again are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or the 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 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, which is scheduled for Aug. 9, awarding scholarships and advocating for recreational fishing. Founded in 1913, it is the oldest,
continually operating fishing club in the United States.