(Atlantic) Four candidates will compete in the 2026 Atlantic Scrooge Contest, raising money and food donations for the Atlantic Food Pantry.
This year’s candidates are Steele McLaren of the Steele McLaren Foundation; Caitlin Eilderts, representing the Atlantic Merchants Guild and Grinnin Bear Tattoo; Matt Gross of Atlantic Bottling; and Mike McDermott, representing Atlantic Schools and serving as an Atlantic City Councilman.
The campaign runs November 1 through November 24. Candidates earn five points for every dollar raised and one point for each food item donated. The candidate with the most points wins and serves as grand marshal of Atlantic’s Lighted Christmas Parade.
According to Jackie Sampson, the contest began in 2001 after her mother, Big E Hoover, recognized the need for additional support for the Atlantic Food Pantry. Hoover continued organizing the contest until her death in March 2019. Sampson and family friend Karen Miller have continued the tradition in her honor.
The need for the pantry has grown significantly. In 2019, it served an average of 24 households and 53 people per week. Today, those numbers have increased to 130 households and more than 360 people weekly.
