In recognition of national Hunger Action Month, the PSEG Foundation has announced the first wave of grant recipients under its Neighborhood Partners Program (NPP). Eighty nonprofit organizations providing critical food assistance, essential resources, and support services across New Jersey and Long Island will share a combined $500,000 in funding.
The grants form part of a broader initiative that will distribute more than $1 million through the NPP this year. Established in 2014, the program has invested over $9.8 million across 825 organizations in New Jersey and Long Island, including $8.9 million dedicated to New Jersey communities alone.
Among the first cohort of awardees are notable regional organizations tackling community hardships head-on:
- Meals on Wheels (Mercer County): Supports homebound senior citizens with vital nutrition.
- St. Joseph’s Social Service Center (Elizabeth): Provides food, clothing, and medications to local residents in need.
- Covenant House (Newark): Delivers food, water, hygiene kits, and comprehensive support to youth experiencing homelessness.
“Many New Jersey and Long Island residents continue to struggle to afford basic necessities,” Calvin Ledford Jr., President of the PSEG Foundation and Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at PSEG, said. “The PSEG Foundation’s goal is to help position our nonprofit partners to meet growing demand. Our community partners are on the front lines every day, helping meet the needs of families, senior citizens and individuals.”
Bernadette Murphy, Executive Director at St. Joseph Social Service Center, underscored the impact of the corporate philanthropy. “PSEG Foundation’s support helps to sustain our food program and nourishes our neighbors not just with food, but also with support services delivered with love, dignity, and compassion,” Murphy noted.
In addition to financial contributions, PSEG employees actively support local anti-hunger efforts through hands-on volunteerism. So far this year, 350 employees have contributed upwards of 1,500 volunteer hours across 14 organizations. This follows a strong 2025 initiative where nearly 700 employees backed more than 50 food drives, soup kitchens, and food pantry partnerships.
