NYSEG and RG&E Donate $54,500 to Food Banks and Pantries Across New York

BINGHAMTON, NY — June 29, 2021 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) recently donated a total of $54,500 to food security organizations across New York state. The donations are part of the companies’ Corporate Donation Program to support and care for the communities that it serves. 

“We’re proud to support these local organizations that are helping our neighbors and strengthening our communities,” said Dave Gridley, Director of Government & Community Relations at NYSEG and RG&E. “Food banks and pantries are integral parts of our communities. In addition to providing food to those in need, these organizations also often offer nutrition education, backpack programs in schools, mobile food pantries, and other assistance programs. Supporting their efforts is an important step in caring for the communities we serve.”

In total, NYSEG and RG&E provided gifts and sponsorships to 14 food banks and pantries across its service area.

Eastern New York 

NYSEG donated a total of $15,500 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, Somers Lions Charitable Foundation (Somer's Angels), Friends of TBS, Inc. and the Salvation Army Empire State Division.
 
“We are so grateful for NYSEG’s continued support of our mission to alleviate hunger and prevent food waste,” said Bethany Stiles, Director of Marketing & Communications at Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY. “This contribution will allow us to provide 30,000 meals to people in need throughout our 23-county service area.”

NYSEG donations will support the organizations in the following ways:

• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY: The $7,500 donation will support the food bank’s hunger relief efforts, which includes distributing food and basic need items to a network of 985 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other charitable feeding programs. 
• Somer's Angels: The $1,500 donation will support the organization’s efforts to provide groceries and other essentials to those in need.
• Friends of TBS: The $1,500 donation will support the organization’s various efforts throughout Putnam and Northern Westchester counties. 
• Salvation Army Empire State Division: The $5,000 donation will support the organization’s food security efforts, which include food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal delivery services that serve low-income individuals and families.

Central New York

 NYSEG donated $7,500 to Food Bank of Central New York. The funds will help provide 22,500 nutritious meals throughout the organization’s eleven county emergency food network. Additionally, NYSEG donated $5,000 to the Salvation Army Empire State Division, which serves Central New York, to support their food security efforts.

“We appreciate the continued support of NYSEG,” said Karen Belcher, Executive Director at Food Bank of Central New York. “As we head into the summer months, we expect an increase in need as children will not be able to access free school breakfast and lunch. This donation will help us continue to provide nutritious food to children, their families, and other people struggling with hunger in central and northern New York.”

Finger Lakes

NYSEG donated $1,500 to Food Justice of Geneva, which gleaned more than 30,000 pounds of produce in 2020. Additionally, NYSEG donated $5,000 to the Salvation Army Empire State Division, which serves the Finger Lakes region, to support their food security efforts.

“The Salvation Army Empire State Division is incredibly grateful to RG&E and NYSEG for sharing our vision and supporting us in combating food insecurity and improving the health and welfare of our vulnerable communities throughout Upstate New York,” said Major Ivan Rock, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Empire State Division. “We couldn’t be more grateful to corporate partners like NYSEG and RG&E who choose to come alongside neighbors in need through their support of The Salvation Army.”

Southern Tier

NYSEG donated a total of $15,000 to Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW), Food Bank of the Southern Tier and Salvation Army Empire State Division, which serves the Southern Tier.
 
“As an organization fighting to end hunger, CHOW could not do what we do without the generous folks of the community,” said Les Aylesworth, Director of CHOW. “NYSEG’s recent gift of $2,500 not only allowed us to provide 12,500 meals for the community, it demonstrated yet again that they are in this fight with us!”

NYSEG donations will support the organizations in the following ways:

• Food Bank of the Southern Tier: The $7,500 donation will support the food bank’s efforts in Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties. Food Bank of the Southern Tier works with a network of 160 partner agencies and serves nearly 22,000 people each week. 
• CHOW: The $2,500 donation will help provide 12,500 meals to those in need via CHOW’s emergency food distribution program.
• Salvation Army Empire State Division: The $5,000 donation will support the organization’s food security efforts, which include food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal delivery services that serve low-income individuals and families.

Western New York

NYSEG donated $7,500 to FeedMore WNY to support their efforts in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara counties. The organization’s food bank program distributes more than 17 million pounds of nutritious foods to nearly 300 regional pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other hunger-relief agencies. In addition to supporting FeedMore WNY, NYSEG also donated $5,000 to the Salvation Army Empire State Division, which serves Western New York, to support their food security efforts.
 
“We are incredibly grateful for the partnership of NYSEG,” said Catherine Shick, Chief Communications Officer for FeedMore WNY. “Through their sponsorship of our signature event, Sweet Expectations at Home, and their generous contribution to help FeedMore WNY continue to respond to the ongoing pandemic, we are able to provide more nutritious meals to hungry children, families, older adults and veterans throughout Western New York.”

In addition to NYSEG and RG&E’s donations to local food banks and pantries, the companies’ 2021 Corporate Donation Program also supported more than 20 health and welfare organizations earlier this year. The company also plans to support local nonprofits focused on arts and culture and education and young people later this year. These donations will impact every division within the NYSEG and RG&E service area.
 
NYSEG and RG&E’s support is enhanced by additional giving through the Avangrid Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the AVANGRID family of companies. Since 2002, the Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $28 million in partnerships to help meet a number of community needs. In New York, the Avangrid Foundation has made more than $5.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and qualified programs during the last five years. This includes investing more than $300,000 last year in combating household economic and food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NYSEG and RG&E are subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc.

#  #  #