Atlantic City Rescue Mission

Atlantic City Rescue Mission (ACRM) is a rescue mission founded in 1964 by John Fink with the purpose of supporting residents in South Jersey in the United States. The rescue mission provides food banks, a soup kitchen and homeless shelter.[1] ACRM assists over 3,300 homeless and people in need of assistance per year. It is the largest provider of comprehensive services in New Jersey, serve approximately 20% of people in the state.

Atlantic City Rescue Mission
Formation1964 (1964)
FounderJohn Fink
Founded atAtlantic City, New Jersey
Location
  • 2009 Bacharach Blvd
    Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
Coordinates39.36500°N 74.44001°W / 39.36500; -74.44001
ServicesRescue mission
Soup kitchen
Homeless shelter
Food bank
Websitewww.acrescuemission.org

History

The Atlantic City Rescue Mission was founded in 1964 by John Fink. Initially the rescue mission provided food and shelter to a few homeless men from a "small storefront in Atlantic City". In 1970, ACRM moved to a larger facility on Bacharach Boulevard and provided 27 men shelter and a 90-day work-therapy program.

In 1975, a second shelter was opened for women. After the introduction of gambling to Atlantic City in 1978, the increase of people seeking assistance went beyond the main facility’s capacity, causing problems. In 1990, the facility had expanded to include 312 people. The women's programs relocated to the same building as men.

Atlantic City Rescue Mission began its Women’s Overcomers Program in 2000. In 2003, the 90-day work program was expanded to 120 days. In August 2012, homeless seeking shelter were no longer able to go directly to the building and were "referred to the Atlantic County Office Building on Atlantic Avenue, nearly a mile away, before they can be admitted to the shelter".[2]

Hamilton Mall investments and associates support ACRM through fundraisers.[3] In 2010, director Barry Durham, who opposed gambling, stated that 22% of people served by ACRM cited gambling as the cause of their homelessness.[4]

During the January 2019 North American cold wave, ACRM provided emergency services and shelter to help homeless people escape the dangerous cold.[5]

Miss America contestants have served dinner at ACRM as part of a public outreach program. In 2015, 52 Contestants at Miss America participated in the Miss America Serves program at the ACRM. In 2017, 51 Miss America contestants served meals and provided assistance to ACRM.[6]

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References
  1. Lowe, Claire (28 January 2019). "Atlantic Christian fundraiser benefits school, AC Rescue Mission". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  2. McKelvey, Wallace (24 August 2012). "Atlantic City Rescue Mission to refer homeless to county building nearly a mile away". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. Frank Legato; Jennifer Shermer Pack; David Verdini (2005). Atlantic City: In Living Color. Indigo Custom Publishing. pp. 223–. ISBN 978-0-9725951-6-2.
  4. Thomas Parmalee (1 September 2010). Legalized Gambling. ABDO. pp. 29–. ISBN 978-1-61613-522-5.
  5. Zayas, Melanie (31 January 2019). "Atlantic City Officials Seek to Help Homeless Escape Dangerously Cold Temperatures". snjtoday.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  6. Reil, Maxwell (2 September 2017). "Miss America contestants serve dinner at Atlantic City Rescue Mission". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
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