National Grid hosts community resource fair
More than 500 employees with National Grid, a natural gas and energy utility provider, stepped away from their day jobs last week to volunteer with community organizations across Long Island.
The company’s “Project C” day of service initiative, began in 2020 with the goal of creating meaningful, permanent change and strengthening relationships within the communities it serves. It has since expanded from a one-day initiative into an entire week of service, featuring several events across the state.
National Grid partnered with local organizations, including Northwell Health, the St. Paul AME Church, Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre and the Campaign Against Hunger on Friday, Sept. 20, for its annual community resource fair and pop-up food pantry.
“We partnered with local houses of worship to show the community we are here,” Carla Hunter Ramsey, the director of external affairs and community engagement with National Grid, told the Herald. “National Grid is determined to leave no one behind as we achieve our clean energy vision.”
Nearly 200 residents in the surrounding area gathered in front of the St. Paul AME Church on Pershing Boulevard in Lakeview to see what the fair had to offer.
“We are delighted to welcome you to the Saint Paul AME Church, where we’re touching lives, impacting generations and empowering communities,” Rev Tristan Salley said.
“Partnerships are extremely important to us here, not only in what we do on behalf of God and God’s people, but more importantly, what we’re looking to do on behalf of our community.”
The Campaign Against Hunger started in 1998, when founder Dr. Melony Samuels, was led to help provide food for a struggling single mother. What began with serving one family has since expanded to serving more than 14,000 families across New York City and beyond.
O’Cheal Russell, interim warehouse manager with TCAH said the organization loaded up its trucks with 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables to provide local families with fresh produce at below market price.
“We’ve been open for 26 years and our mission is to empower our neighbors to lead healthy, self-sufficient and nutritious lives by providing food and related resources,” Russell said. “We have pantries and different and different resources throughout the five boroughs, and on occasion, we do things like this, and we come out to Long Island, and we’re here to serve.”
In addition to food, National Grid provided energy efficiency kits and information on heating grants for low- and moderate-income families, Northwell provided information on a variety of services including cancer screenings, overdose awareness, weight loss, and more.
The NAACP of Lakeview and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity also assisted residents to register to vote.
Rabbi David Lerner said that Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David came out to support the community by providing kosher food items ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday.
“We have to go out and do good in this world, especially in this time when there are so many forces of division out there,” Lerner said. “Let’s get together. Let love bring us together. Let caring bring us together. And what we’re doing today.”
Nassau County Legislators Bill Gaylor and Samantha Goetz, Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander, Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray and National Grid Vice President of Gas Network Operations Aaron Choo.
“When we think about Project C — it’s about this,” Choo said. “It’s about the community in terms of how we partner. How we help those in need. Helping revitalize neighborhoods. Partnering with our faith-based institutions, our local communities, social justice, climate justice, equity programs and small businesses.”
