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

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ROCHESTER, 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, including five food banks and pantries serving the Greater Rochester Region. 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. Locally, RG&E donated a total of $12,500 to Foodlink, Community Place of Greater Rochester, South Wedge Planning Committee, UR Medicine Home Care Foundation and the Salvation Army Empire State Division.

“The Salvation Army Empire State Division is incredibly grateful to NYSEG and RG&E 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.”

RG&E’s donations will support the organizations in the following ways:

  • Foodlink: The $2,500 donation will support the organization’s efforts in Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Since March 2020, Foodlink has served 200,000 households through its drive-thru distribution and 1 million healthy meals to students through its Foodlink Community Kitchen. 
  • Community Place of Greater Rochester: The $1,000 donation will support the organization’s annual East Avenue 5K Grocery Run. This event raises funds for their two food pantries used by the Family Services Unit.
  • South Wedge Planning Committee: The $1,500 donation will support the organization’s Farmers Market, which connects producers with consumers, and their neighborhood Victory Garden, which provides fresh produce to local food pantries and promotes healthy eating by encouraging neighbors to grow their own fresh vegetables.
  • UR Medicine Home Care Foundation: The $5,000 donation will support the organization’s Meals on Wheels program, which provides nutritionally balanced, home-delivered meals to older adults and people with disabilities. This program enables individuals to remain healthy, independent and age safely in place.
  • Salvation Army Empire State Division: The $2,500 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.

“Although many of our communities are slowly returning to normalcy, there are still thousands of families in our region who don’t know when, or from where, they’ll get their next meal,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “We’re grateful for our ongoing partnership with NYSEG and RG&E, and for their continued support of our mission during this public health crisis.”

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. Locally, this includes support for Foodlink. 

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

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About RG&E: Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1848, RG&E operates approximately 8,800 miles of electric distribution lines and 1,100 miles of electric transmission lines. It also operates approximately 10,600 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 105 miles of gas transmission pipelines. It serves approximately 378,500 electricity customers and 313,000 natural gas customers in a nine-county region in New York surrounding the City of Rochester. For more information, visit rge.com.

About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $36 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com.

Learn about the Iberdrola Group’s global pandemic response at its COVID-19 Hub.

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