A month of gratitude and support for veterans

PSEG Long Island and its devoted employees dedicated the month of November and beyond to celebrating and supporting military veterans.

Every Tuesday in November, as well as on December 12, PSEG Long Island sponsored Military Appreciation Tuesday events at Long Island Cares, Inc. – Harry Chapin Food Bank pantries in Bethpage, Hampton Bays, Huntington Station, Freeport, and Lindenhurst.

During these events, veterans visiting the pantries were greeted with offerings from PSEG Long Island, including LED lightbulbs, reusable bags, and a variety of additional items such as personal care essentials, healthy proteins, fresh produce, winter jackets, and pillows. Over 1,000 veterans and their families were served by the dedicated efforts of nearly 100 PSEG Long Island employee-volunteers.

Active involvement continued as PSEG Long Island employees participated in Nassau County’s Veterans Stand Down. Here, they distributed hundreds of items to almost 500 attending veterans. In collaboration with the General Needs veterans’ assistance organization, PSEG Long Island provided new winter coats, hats, gloves, pillows, socks, and undergarments. Additionally, veterans were equipped with LED lightbulbs and information about the company’s financial assistance and energy efficiency programs.

In a pre-Thanksgiving collaboration, PSEG Long Island joined forces once again with Long Island Cares and Suffolk County government to distribute Thanksgiving dinner essentials. At the Dennison building in Hauppauge, a drive-thru distribution was organized for over 350 veterans, where PSEG Long Island employees distributed frozen turkeys, hams, pies, produce, and other holiday trimmings. Veterans also received LED lightbulbs and reusable shopping bags. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone made a supportive appearance, assisting in the distribution of items.

David Lyons, PSEG Long Island’s interim president and COO, expressed pride in sponsoring these events during the month of November, a time when the nation recognizes the sacrifices made by those who have served. He conveyed gratitude to PSEG Long Island employees for their commitment to supporting community members who served.

Jessica Rosati, vice president for programs at Long Island Cares, conveyed deep appreciation for the continuous support provided by PSEG Long Island and its employee-volunteers, emphasizing the partnership as a necessary lifeline for Long Island’s most vulnerable populations.

Veterans who participated in these events expressed sincere gratitude for the helpful items distributed and the personal attention they received from PSEG Long Island’s employee-volunteers.

Beyond the November events, PSEG Long Island employees, many of whom are military veterans themselves, engaged in various activities throughout the year to support veterans in the community. In September, employees participated in the 22 PTSD Awareness Challenge by kayaking 22 miles across the Long Island Sound to raise awareness about the 22 veterans who take their own lives each day.

Each December and May, employees took part in placing wreaths and American flags at the national cemeteries in Calverton and Pinelawn for Flags Across America and Wreaths Across America. This year, PSEG Long Island also donated 500 wreaths to the wreath-laying event taking place on December 16.

In August, employee-volunteers greeted veterans and distributed PSEG Long Island-provided fresh produce, clothing, and other items at Suffolk Veterans event.