By GREG BORAK
For the Sentinel
OCEAN CITY — More than a thousand people enjoyed Ocean City Fishing Club’s Open House at the Pier last Thursday, Aug. 1. Visitors brought a record 220 pounds of non-perishable food to benefit the local Food Cupboard and also donated $895 to the agency.
Last year, 2,112 visitors attended two open houses. At the first event, 190 pounds of food were donated, and 195 pounds at the second. A total of $1,924 was contributed to the Ocean City Food Cupboard.
“When we opened the pier gate,” Tom Yucis said last week, “it seemed a little slow. But as the evening went on, the visitors kept coming, for a total of 1,020. Thanks to their generosity, we were again able to make a significant contribution to the Food Cupboard. I look forward to next week when we have our second open house of the year.”
That Open House at the Pier will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. Visitors again are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or to make a cash donation to help feed the needy.
Weather plays a factor in the success of any outdoor event and although rain forced the club to reschedule its first open house this year, Yucis looks forward to fair skies and sunshine bringing even more people to the pier for the next open house.
“In addition to contributing to a worthy cause,” he said, “everyone just enjoys the experience. All you see are smiles on everyone’s faces.”
Don Miller, who just moved to Ocean City recently after retiring from his work in California with First Tee, a youth development organization that combines golf with developing life skills, was first in line for the open house.
“I grew up in Vineland and I’ve always wanted to walk the pier,” he said, sharing a sentiment heard from many visitors. “This is so great!”
Matt Kish, 10, who will be going into the fourth grade when he goes back to school in Pennsylvania, studied a chart that listed the sizes of various fish caught on the pier.
“I like fishing,” the youngster said. “I caught a bluefish in Florida and I want to go for stripers some day.”
Club members were on hand 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. Some youngsters, like Jackson Diamond, 10, from Hamilton Square, even got some hands-on experience with bait used for fishing.
“That’s slimy!” he exclaimed, as he held a bloodworm offered by Joel Richman, one of the OCFC club members at the pier bait shack.
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, awarding scholarships and advocating for recreational fishing. Founded in 1913, it is the oldest, continually operating fishing club in the United States.