We provide a variety of programs and events that have a positive impact on Coast Guard Members, their families and Recruits within our community. Our list of Events includes:
- 2015 – The inaugural Coast Guard Community Festival was established to celebrate Cape May County’s designation as a Coast Guard Community.
- 2018 – The Southern New Jersey Coast Guard Ball in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard began.
- 2022 – The Always Ready 5K was brought to Cape May in partnership with U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. In 2023 we added the Always Ready K9 for dog lovers.
- We participate in other local events throughout Cape May County in celebration of the Coast Guard’s importance to our region and to honor their service to our Country. These events include the Annual Salute to the Coast Guard at MudHen Brewery and the Burke Motor Group Car, Truck & Cycle Show.
Our current list of Programs that provide support to Coast Guard Members, their families and Recruits include:
- The Backpack Brigade Program: Assists Active-Duty Coast Guard families with the costly task of purchasing back to school supplies by providing school age children with stocked backpacks giving them a jump start on the new school year.
- The Community Activity Program: Provides reimbursement to Active-Duty Coast Guard families for the registration fees for community activity programs.
- The Graduation Send-Off Program: Created to congratulate graduating Recruits when their families were unable to attend Graduation Ceremonies. This program created a dedicated community response that continues today.
- The Homeschooling Families Support Program: Established in 2023, is the product of our special relationship with Coast Guard families. Through conversations, we learned that there is a significant number of families who Homeschool their children. Over the past year, we have worked to understand what their needs are and are excited to have launched this new initiative.
- The Seamanship Award Program: Provides funding for the Marlinspike Rigging Knives which are granted at each Graduation Ceremony to the Recruit who demonstrates the highest degree of proficiency during the Seamanship Phase of Basic Training. This program is in partnership with the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 8-2 Cape May.
We also support other organizations with their efforts to provide services or support to Coast Guard Service Members, their families and Recruits that fall within the guidelines of our mission.
- We provide ice cream for Coast Guard personnel and their families at the annual Coast Guard Day celebration in honor of the Coast Guard’s Birthday on August 4th, held at USCG Training Center Cape May.
- A portion of the funds from the Coast Guard Community Festival support the U. S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) branch to provide leisure programs and services to improve the quality of life of Service members and their families.
- Active-Duty military lunch vouchers for attendees at the annual Coast Guard Community Festival in appreciation for their service.
- Donation in support of the Good Neighbor Fund at Nature Center Cape May who provides scholarships to Coast Guard families for their yearly Summer Camp Program.
- Donation toward the Lower Cape May Regional After Prom Event.
- Donor of the Lower Cape May Little League Coast Guard Ceremonial Garden, a project conducted for an Eagle Scout Badge Project – West Cape May Troop 73.
- We have contributed to the commissioning celebrations for new Fast Response Cutters which are homeported in Cape May including the USCGC Lawrence Lawson, Rollin Fritch, and Angela McShan.
We will continue to strive toward identifying programs that meet the needs of Coast Guard Members, their families and Recruits in our community.
