In observance of Memorial Day, South Jersey Industries (SJI) and its primary utility subsidiaries, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas, have launched a coordinated series of corporate remembrance events alongside targeted community aid drives to support active-duty military personnel, veterans, and military families across New Jersey.
The multi-site initiative is being led by SJI’s Veterans Engagement Team (VET), an internal employee resource group dedicated to civic advocacy and service-member support.
To anchor the commemorative period, employees have established “Missing Persons” informational displays across SJI’s regional operational hubs in Atlantic City, Green Lane, and Folsom.
The tables serve as a physical tribute to the more than 81,000 American service members who remain unaccounted for from major global conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf War. The memorial installations will remain on public and employee display through May 29.
Additionally, SJI workers distributed traditional folded flag emblems and poppy pins, while establishing a digital, company-wide “Wall of Honor.” The virtual platform allows employees to formally submit and display the names of friends and family members who made the ultimate sacrifice during military service.
On the community investment front, the VET organization recently wrapped up its 6th Annual Jo Carney Drive. The internal collection campaign specifically targeted small-scale lifestyle enhancements for residents of the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, New Jersey.
SJI employees donated an assortment of high-demand personal care items, clothing, puzzles, and activity books directly to the facility.
Expanding its civic scope into the summer, SJI leadership announced a major upcoming food distribution partnership. From June 14 through July 9, the company will run a coordinated food drive in collaboration with the American Red Cross and its Service to the Armed Forces program.
The drive will aggregate employee-donated, nonperishable goods to benefit active-duty military personnel, veterans, and local military families stationed at or supported by Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Red Cross program provides critical emergency services on base, handles emergency communications during active deployments, and assists in local military hospital care.
“SJI is proud to partner with the Service to the Armed Forces and American Red Cross to assist military and veteran families in need through our food drive,” Mike Bizzoco, SJI’s Vice President of Information Technology said. “These brave men and women have served and sacrificed for our country, so it is rewarding to see our community come together for them in support of a great cause.”
Concurrently during the week of June 14, SJI operational facilities will act as collection points for a “Retiring the Flag” campaign. Employees and community partners can drop off worn or unserviceable American flags, which SJI will collect and forward to local veteran organizations for formal, dignified retirement ceremonies.
