Energizing Our Healthcare Heroes

– Janeen Johnson, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, PSEG Long Island

We are so proud of our employees’ commitment to their communities throughout the year. And even more so during these challenging times.

As our essential workers in the field ensure homes and businesses are provided safe, reliable power during the pandemic, and the rest of our team is social distancing in their homes, many working while home schooling their kids, we have not forgotten that commitment.

Two months ago, the social distancing initiative caused us to pause our hands-on community service for hundreds of not-for-profit organizations across Long Island and the Rockaways.

It did not pause our resolve to support our neighbors.

Through our Diversity & Inclusion Council and employee business resource groups, we are now providing sustenance to some of the people battling the pandemic on the front lines – energizing our healthcare heroes.

Throughout April and also during National Nurses Week, which ended on May 12, dinners, lunches and breakfasts, along with uplifting thank you-notes from PSEG Long Island employees, were sent to daytime and overnight staff caring for COVID-19 patients at a dozen facilities across Long Island. Our employees have made a commitment to providing these catered meals, snacks and sports drinks to at least 30 local hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare facilities.

To date, more than 300 meals have been sent to a dozen facilities, including Northwell Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, Stony Brook University Hospital and the Northport VA Medical Center’s Community Living Center. Often the restaurants catering our donated meals throw in extras, like cases of waters, cookies or other goodies for the healthcare heroes. The camaraderie is uplifting and our sense of community couldn’t be stronger. The thank-you notes, letters and photos from the healthcare workers bring joy to our employees.

Along with the food donations we’ve also been able to provide financial support through the PSEG Foundation to help our neighbors affected firsthand by the coronavirus pandemic. Island Harvest Food Bank received a $45,000 grant to reduce food insecurity during the pandemic. And the United Way of Long Island’s UNITED TOGETHER: A Response Fund for COVID-19 was given a $25,000 grant. The money will help alleviate disruptions to family life by providing eligible applicants with critical basic needs of food and household supplies.

Once it is deemed safe, we are committed to putting back on our bright orange “community service” T-shirts and getting our hands dirty gardening and sorting food for Island Harvest, walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies, cleaning up parks and open spaces, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, participating in charity runs, mentoring children in schools and engaging in myriad other community service events and activities. 

Until then, we are #PSEGLIproud to support our neighbors with the pressing needs that this COVID-19 pandemic brings.