PSEG Long Island Supports Local Veterans through Collection Drives, Awareness Efforts and Beautification Projects

Seven employee/veterans recently kayaked across the Long Island Sound to raise awareness about PTSD and suicide prevention

(UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Nov. 5, 2021) PSEG Long Island and its employees are committed to supporting the veteran community. Each year the company provides opportunities for its employees to help individual veterans and organizations through hands-on community service.

Recently, a group of PSEG Long Island employees who are military veterans paddled in the “22 PTSD Awareness Challenge” (22PAC). The event is held annually around Labor Day to shine a light on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the military community and the alarming average number of 22 veterans who commit suicide every day. This issue is particularly noteworthy this time of year with the commemoration of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The seven paddlers in the PSEG Long Island contingent were part of a larger group of military veterans making the cross-Long Island Sound journey from Bridgeport, CT to Port Jefferson – 22 veterans in all in tandem kayaks.

Team PSEG Long Island included several kayakers who have made the grueling trip each of the four years the event has taken place. They include Glenn Brewster (U.S. Marine Corps), working foreman from East Patchogue; Tom Gross (U.S. Army), working foreman from Mattituck; and Austin Lipari (U.S. Army), lineworker from Holbrook.

George Ritter (U.S. Navy), foreman/trainer from Shirley, paddled this year for the second time. Several other PSEG Long Island employees assisted in the effort by running safety boats and helping to organize the annual event.

Three newer employees kayaked for the first time this year. They are Joseph Mastanduno (U.S. Marine Corps) of Farmingville, and Jacob Raggett (U.S. Army) of Patchogue, who both work in Meter Services; and Devin McLaughlin (U.S. Marines), apprentice lineworker from East Moriches.

PSEG Long Island’s commitment to our local heroes will continue the week of Veterans Day when several dozen employees will be participating in two community service projects to spruce up and beautify outdoor spaces. The projects include enhancing the Veterans Memorial Pool & Park in East Meadow by planting shrubs and trees and grooming the grounds, and raking, weeding and clearing the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Garden and courtyard at the Northport Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.

Also throughout the month of November, PSEG Long Island employees are supporting veterans by participating in two collection drives for local, grassroots veterans’ organizations – General Needs, Ltd. and 9-1-1 Veterans. The groups offer food and meals, clothing and other necessities to local veterans in need, provide household supplies and furnishings for formerly homeless veterans, and support awareness about PTSD and the high rate of suicide among the veteran population.

PSEG Long Island is fortunate to count military veterans among its employees – men and women who served and continue to serve our country proudly, and are dedicated to serving our customers by committing to provide them with safe, reliable power.

To learn more about PSEG Long Island’s commitment to community service, visit https://www.psegliny.com/inthecommunity. To view photos of the kayaking event, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX1Lfy4

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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.