On November 26, in celebration of Thanksgiving and assisting the community, Gershow Recycling worked with local law enforcement agencies and fire departments to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to local families in need. Those who received the turkeys included the Fire Department of New York’s (FDNY) Engine 231/Ladder 120 at Watkins Street; FDNY’s Engine 290/Ladder 103 “Pride of Sheffield Avenue”; FDNY’s Engine 332/Ladder 175 at Bradford Street; FDNY’s Rescue Squad 252; the Emergency Service Unit; and the New York Police Department’s 73rd and 75th Precincts.
In support of local fire departments, Gershow Recycling donated the use of a lithium-ion battery to the Medford Fire Department for its Fire Prevention Open House that took place on October 4. During the event, there was a demonstration showing the dangers of what can happen when leaving a plugged-in battery unattended. Gershow has shown its support for the firefighting community by opening its facilities to firefighters and donating the use of its scrap vehicles for extrication exercises, including the annual Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament.
Gershow Recycling was a sponsor of the Medford Chamber’s Concert for Veterans, which took place on June 21 at Medford Memorial Park featuring Lipstick and F.U.B. This performance was part of the Medford Chamber’s Summer Concert Series.
Gershow Recycling provided financial assistance to graduating high school seniors from Long Island and the New York metropolitan area with its Environmental Conservation Scholarship. Now in its 16th year, this one-time, $1,000 scholarship is given to a student who intends to continue their studies in either engineering or environmental science after graduation.
This year’s recipients were Connor Murphy (Bellport High School), Skyler Duke (Bay Shore High School), David Jorgensen (Lindenhurst High School), Patrick Mucha (Patchogue-Medford High School), Marilyn Sanchez-Zepeda (Valley Stream Central High School), Julio Fromento Gomez (Freeport High School), Jayden Morales-Aparicio (Walt Whitman High School), Andrew Muzaka (Herricks High School), Aamina Chaudhry (Longwood High School), Lillian Pennacchia (Riverhead High School), and Ryan Jean Baptiste (Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School).
The recipients of this year’s Gershow Recycling/Medford Chamber of Commerce Scholarship were Megan Scovani and Arellys Barrera-Martinez of Patchogue-Medford High School. This one-time award in the amount of $1,000 is awarded to two Patchogue-Medford High School students who intend to continue studying environmental science, recycling or business.
This year’s recipients of the Gershow Recycling/Medford Taxpayers & Civic Association Scholarship were Nicole Fox and Isana Alicea who, after graduation, plan to study environmental science, political science or government.
Bryan Frascogna and Ceania Rei Gonzales each received the Gershow Recycling/Medford Fire Department Scholarship. These scholarships went to these two students as they plan to continue their service as a volunteer firefighter or EMT, or pursue a career in public service.
The Gershow Recycling/Staff Sgt. Keith Bishop Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2937 Scholarship went to Brennan Sullivan and Alexandre Lawrence. They will continue to pursue ROTC or a military career in conjunction with their academic studies.
As part of its support for local charities, Gershow Recycling recently made a $1,000 donation to Angela’s House. The donation was made during the Medford Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at Angela’s House Home Store in Medford on June 19.
Angela’s House is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that assists families caring for children with special health care needs who are medically fragile, chronically ill or living with a life-threatening illness.
Collects 20,464 Pounds of Scrap; Proceeds to Support Cleanup of Tesla Science Center Property
Gershow Recycling sponsored and took part in “Metal for Tesla,” a scrap metal fundraising event, which was held at the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW) in Shoreham on Earth Day weekend, on Saturday, April 20. As part of the fundraiser, Gershow provided the use of a container and collected 20,464 pounds of scrap metal, which wound up being recycled and kept out of landfills. Through the fundraiser and donations made by Gershow, $2,171 was raised to support the organization. Proceeds will go to support renovations at Wardenclyffe. In addition to its sponsorship and participation, Gershow handed out recycling educational activity books to children in attendance, as well as T-shirts, refrigerator magnets, and reusable shopping bags.
Since 2013, Gershow has provided the use of its scrap metal containers for the TSCW as part of its efforts to help the non-profit organization fund the renovation of Wardenclyffe, which is the site of the only remaining laboratory of the famous inventor, Nikola Tesla. Plans for the property include a Tesla museum, an Education and Visitor Center with space to host community workshops and an innovation center for startup companies to help launch their businesses.
In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling has once again donated $1,000 to the Patchogue-Medford High School cheerleading team to help pay for the costs associated with the trip to the National Championship, which will take place February 9-12, 2024 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. This is a significant milestone for the team, since it is the second time in the school’s history, and the second consecutive year, that they have qualified for Nationals.
Pictured (left to right): Peter O’Toole, External Logistics Coordinator, Tunnel to Towers Foundation; Jonathan Abrams, Gershow Recycling; Rich D’Angelo, Manager, Huntington Station Facility, Gershow Recycling; and Rob Jordan, Warehouse Property Manager, Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Members of the Tunnel to Towers (T2T) Foundation came to Gershow Recycling’s Huntington Station facility on December 20 to collect 25 vintage fire extinguishers from Gershow.
The vintage fire extinguishers are set to be auctioned off by T2T, with all proceeds going towards assisting the families of fallen first responders, Gold Star families and homeless veterans.
T2T was established in honor of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who lost his life during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The organization aims to honor and support the courageous men and women who risk their lives daily in the line of duty, provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and first responders, and builds specially adapted smart homes for injured first responders and veterans.
Gershow made the connection with T2T, thanks to one of its employees, a former SCPD detective whose brother-in-law, George C. Cain, a New York City firefighter (Engine 16-Ladder 7) perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A few years back, Sam Gershowitz had two fire extinguishers refurbished with a copper coating to be given to Cain’s mother and sister as Mother’s Day gifts. Both fire extinguishers were greatly appreciated, and are proudly displayed in the homes of Cain’s mother and sister. With the help of Gershow management, the idea of donating more fire extinguishers to T2T was put in motion with the hope of generating more money to support their worthy causes.
Gershow Recycling was a major sponsor of the KiDS NEED MoRE HoLiDAY CHEER BUS Elf Ride, which took place at the group’s headquarters in Amityville December 17. The company generously contributed $2,500 as a key supporter of this festive event.
Jonathan Abrams of Gershow Recycling addressed the crowd during the press conference. “These children have been through a lot in their lives and, today, we want to make this day a very special day for them,” he said. “I wish to commend everyone at KiDS NEED MoRE for the work that they do. This is an organization that truly performs miracles.”
KiDS NEED MoRE is renowned for its various programs aimed at enriching the lives of children and families facing life-threatening illnesses and traumatic interruptions of the normal childhood experience. Each year, since its inception in 2015, the HoLiDAY CHEER BUS Elf Ride has enlisted 1,000 volunteer elves who joyfully deliver gifts to 1,500 children in need across Long Island.
