By Valerie Lonkart
Food insecurity in New Jersey, and specifically Southern New Jersey, has become a growing concern. With over 60,000 people struggling to eat in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties, 19,000 of them children, or 17.3%, the need has never been greater to raise awareness and funds to help end hunger in our area. The Captain’s Table Reception at the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show aims to do just that.
Held March 3, 2022, at the Atlantic City Convention Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the dinner will benefit The Community Food Bank of New Jersey – Southern Branch and Let Us Eat, Please, Inc., two charities dedicated to ending hunger.
The Captain’s Table Reception will feature a night of delectable food, specialty cocktails, and decadent desserts presented by more than 20 of the area’s top chefs. Guests will also enjoy tastings of fine spirits from area wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Live entertainment will keep the evening festive and fun as patrons sample dishes from Bocca, Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern, Josie Kelly’s, Kelsey’s, and many more.
All proceeds will be equally shared by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey- Southern Branch and Let Us Eat, Please, Inc. Community Food Bank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America®, has been delivering food, help, and hope across the state for more than 45 years. Last year, CFBNJ provided nutritious food for over 85 million meals through its network of more than 800 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs throughout the 15 New Jersey counties it serves. For our hungry neighbors, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful agent of change that fills the emptiness caused by hunger and provides resources that are essential to earning a sustainable living.
“We’re honored to be one of the beneficiaries of The Captain’s Table year after year, and we are looking forward to the success of this seventh annual event,” said Denise Hladun, Director of External Affairs at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Alongside our partners at Let Us Eat, Please, the funds raised will help us provide for hungry students and their families in South Jersey – which has some of the highest food insecurity rates in the state.”
Let Us Eat – Please, Inc. was created in 2012 by the late James L. Cooper when he learned through his daughter, a teacher, about the negative impacts of hunger on children who regularly attend school hungry. Cooper, who dedicated much of his 82 years to advocating for the community, civil rights, and philanthropic causes, formed ‘Let Us Eat, Please’ to help address the issue. Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law continues the work of ‘Let Us Eat, Please’ in memory and honor of its founding partner.
The VIP Reception tickets will include entrance to this year’s boat show all day on March 3, where guests can see and climb aboard more than 450 boats for every budget and lifestyle.
Tickets are $125 per person. To purchase a sponsorship or tickets, please visit visithttps://give.cfbnj.org/CaptainsTable.
To make a donation to the Community Food Bank or to learn more about food insecurity in our area, including resources for those in need, visit https://cfbnj.org/hunger-in-new-jersey-2/. To learn more about Let Us Eat, Please, visit https://www.letuseatplease.org.
A former educator, Valerie is a long-time South Jersey resident. She spent over 20 years in the classroom teaching students English and Writing at the middle school and college levels. Prior to working in education, Valerie worked as a professional writer and editor in Washington, D.C. Valerie currently resides in Margate, NJ with her husband and two teenage kids. When not walking the beach with her puppy, she can be found teaching yoga on the island.
