For more than fifty years, the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City has been a mainstay for South Jersey parents and children. The organization provides afterschool activities, nutritious meals, and workforce development programming.
It is also a grant recipient through CFBNJ’s Network Investment Initiative. With the funds awarded, they purchased essential food and beverage equipment, including an industrial freezer to replace an aging one. This will help them store the food that they prepare for afterschool dinners and summer lunches.
“It is our mission to provide resources for the development of young people from all backgrounds to help them realize their full potential as responsible, caring citizens,” they said. “We are extremely grateful to have received support from CFBNJ.”
Food insecurity in Atlantic City, where much of the economy is comprised of casinos and related tourism and hospitality businesses, is among the highest in our state. The area has also been particularly hard-hit by the economic effects of the pandemic.
And nearly 90% of the kids served by the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. By providing healthy food and opportunities for the future, the organization helps kids break the cycle of poverty.
“Atlantic City residents, many of whom were already struggling before the pandemic, will need substantial support to recover and move forward with confidence into a new future,” they added, “and the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City is uniquely positioned to offer this support.”
