Photo caption: PSEG Long Island employee and U.S. Army veteran Jacob Raggett (pictured on left), recently supported a kayaking event to raise awareness about PTSD and the high rate of suicide among military veterans.
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 three newer employees. One of them, U.S. Army veteran and Meter Services team member from Patchogue Jacob Raggett, said he was honored to participate, though he was unable to paddle this year.
“It’s important that we raise awareness about this serious issue that affects so many veterans, and I’m happy to do my part,” said Raggett. “We need to let our fellow servicemen and servicewomen know that we are all here for each other, and always will be, to help them through difficult times.”
Further demonstrating PSEG Long Island’s commitment to our local heroes, several dozen employees will be participating in two community service projects to spruce up and beautify outdoor spaces during the week of Veterans Day. 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
Recent Comments