Health Care Heroes at Northport VA Community Living Center Get Energized with Lunch Provided by PSEG Long Island

(UNIONDALE, N.Y. – June 8, 2020) Over the past two months, PSEG Long Island has been helping to energize hundreds of health care heroes by providing food to local hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, a lunch was sent to the Northport VA Medical Center’s Community Living Center for employees who are caring for military veterans in a nursing home setting.

“Normally during this time of the year, you can find our employees in bright orange T-shirts, weeding at the Northport VA Vietnam Veteran Memorial Garden, packing food for Island Harvest and participating in dozens of other community service events and activities,” said Janeen Johnson, PSEG Long Island’s manager of Diversity & Inclusion. “When the pandemic hit, our Diversity & Inclusion Council and employee business resource groups reflected on our commitment to community service and quickly found ways, such as these meal donations, to continue helping our neighbors while socially distancing.”

Lunch catered by Maroni’s Restaurant of Northport was sent to CLC 1&2 Bldg. 92. Medical and ancillary staff feasted on baked clams, meatballs, penne ala vodka with shrimp, two salads, several pasta dishes, chicken Milanese, chicken parmigiana and drinks.

PSEG Long Island has a long history of engaging in community support at VA – whether it’s cleaning up the grounds, decorating for the holidays or crafting with veterans at the long term care home. When these activities had to be paused with social distancing protocols, providing fuel for the caregivers is another way to provide support.

“It bears repeating that PSEG Long Island and the PSEG Long Island Veterans employee business resource group have been doing so much for the veterans and staff at Northport for years and it’s really appreciated,” said Joe Sledge, Health Systems Specialist, Northport VA Medical Center.

Throughout April and May, dinners, lunches and breakfasts, protein bars and energy drinks along with uplifting thank you notes from PSEG Long Island employees, have been sent to healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients across Long Island. By the end of June, the initiative will have provided meals and snacks at more than 30 health facilities across Long Island and the Rockaways to bring cheer to healthcare workers during this unprecedented time.

Along with the food donations for healthcare heroes, PSEG Long Island has provided additional support for its customers:

• The PSEG Foundation, provided Island Harvest Food Bank with a $45,000 grant to reduce food insecurity during the pandemic.
• The PSEG Foundation gave a $25,000 grant to United Way of Long Island’s UNITED TOGETHER: A Response Fund for COVID-19. The money will help alleviate disruptions to family life by providing eligible applicants with critical basic needs of food and household supplies.
• The PSEG Foundation is supporting the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island’s Disaster Relief Coalition with a $25,000 grant to address critical needs of children and families
• Crews made emergency upgrades to electric service at hospitals to power temporary facilities for additional patients requiring care.
• PSEG Long Island has temporarily suspended electric service shut-offs to residential and business customers for non-payment.
  
  

PSEG Long Island is committed to giving back to the people and communities it serves by actively supporting hundreds of local charity events each year through the company’s Community Partnership Program. With the pandemic and social distancing orders, hands-on community service has been put on hold. However, last year, PSEG Long Island employees logged an unprecedented 30,000 service hours at 1,045 fundraising and community events, supporting more than 500 organizations. For more information on how PSEG Long Island supports the communities it serves, visit https://www.psegliny.com/community.

Photo Caption: Northport VA Medical Center Community Living Center staff prepare to enjoy a catered lunch from Maroni’s Restaurant. PSEG Long Island provided the meal to thank the nursing home staff for caring for our veterans during the pandemic. 

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PSEG Long Island
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.