National Grid employees started their Thanksgiving week at Syracuse’s Brady Market, volunteering their time to help make Thanksgiving possible for families in need. Working together with market staff, the volunteers filled 180 boxes with mashed potatoes, squash, corn, stuffing, roasting pans and other ingredients needed to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. The boxes will be paired with a turkey and distributed to local organizations by the market, who will distribute the boxes to individuals and families experiencing financial difficulty.

“We all have our vulnerabilities and National Grid is here to serve all people,” said Alberto Bianchetti, regional director for customer and community engagement for National Grid. “This is one of the ways we can help during our Season of Giving.”

The company also made a $10,000 donation to the Brady Social Enterprise, a nonprofit that manages the market, the Brady Farm and the Stone Soup Community Education Garden with the goal of improving food access and affordability on Syracuse’s Near Westside.

It’s the first activity of the company’s Season of Giving, which kicked off last week with the announcement of a $6 million donation to establish two funds for low-income customers experiencing financial challenges but exceed the income limits for government assistance programs. The Hope & Warmth Energy Fund and Hearts Fighting Hunger programs are the first programs established by utilities in New York state that address the needs of the working poor.

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