Cape May Housing Authority residents get free access
CAPE MAY — Cape May Cares held a cleanup and awards ceremony May 3 for the organization’s inaugural Beach Tag Scholarship Program.
The nonprofit, which works to improve the quality of life for the children, parents, senior citizens and disabled persons living in the Cape May Housing Authority properties and other low-income areas, awarded about 25 students with Cape May beach tags for themselves and a parent during the program’s honorary Earth Day Clean-Up Event.
The scholarship program is original to Cape May Cares. Since the beginning of the year, Housing Authority students age 12 and older who participated in the Homework Help Program or engaged in the organization’s after-school programs had a goal of earning two beach tags for summer 2025. Students younger than 12 are not required to have a beach tag but were able to earn one for a parent.
“We’re thrilled by the success of the Beach Tag Scholarship Program in its inaugural year. The feedback we’ve received from the children and families who participated, and from the community of Cape May, has been universally positive, and very encouraging for the future of the program,” said Martin Van Walsum, who along with his wife, Deb Van Walsum, brought the idea for scholarships to Keith Lafferty and Claudia Von Savage, founder and vice chair of Cape May Cares respectively, to assist families who cannot afford the $40 price tag for seasonal beach tags.
“Deb and I hope that this program brings smiles to the faces of these precious kids who are growing up at our beautiful beaches, yet have been unable to go until now,” Martin Van Walsum said.
The Van Walsums and Lafferty expect the beach tag scholarship program to grow every year, possibly even extending it to senior citizens and others involved with Cape May Cares.
In addition to the Van Walsums, Lafferty and Von Savage, other attendees at Cape May Cares Earth Day Clean-Up included Cape May Mayor Zach Mullock and Police Chief Dekon Fashaw Jr.
Cape May Cares is located at 639 Lafayette St. Visit capemaycares.org for more information.
