In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling donated $1,000 to the Patchogue-Medford High School cheerleading team to help pay for the costs associated with the trip to the Universal Cheerleading Association National High School Cheerleading Championship, which will take place on February 10-12, 2023 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It is a special moment for the team, since it is the first time in 20 years that they have qualified for the Nationals.
Gershow Recycling donated $400 to Donors Choose to help fund ELLevating English Language Learners Literacy, a program initiated by Kendra Hughes, a teacher at Kreamer Street Elementary School in Bellport. The money went to buy school supplies and books for Ms. Hughes’ students, who are English Language Learners in grades K, 2, and 3. To continue donating to Ms. Hughes’ classroom, please click here.
As part of an industrywide effort to prevent the thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles, Gershow Recycling joined the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) New York Chapter and the Suffolk County Police Department, 4th Precinct in distributing anti-theft marking/etching kits during St. James Day on October 2. Visitors had the opportunity to receive these free kits and learn how to apply the tags.
The catalytic converter kit includes a non-destructible tag and etching fluid to engrave a unique serial number onto the catalytic converter. ISRI industry members have begun to record serial numbers of catalytic converters that were presented for recycling in their efforts to thwart catalytic converter theft.
Catalytic converter theft has become one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, there were approximately 1,300 thefts in 2018. Last year, over 52,000 converters were stolen — an increase of more than 4,000%. Those who sell these items to scrap dealers can get between $25 and $300; if it is from a hybrid vehicle, they can get up to $1,400.
“Gershow is proud to work with ISRI and the Suffolk County Police Department to educate the public on how they can prevent the most valuable part of their vehicle from being stolen,” said Ray Colon, Manager, Gershow Recycling. “Wide-scale use of serial number etchings on catalytic converters will help put an end to catalytic converter theft.”
“The scrap recycling industry is perfectly positioned to obtain the critical information needed to arrest and successfully prosecute catalytic converter thieves,” said Lawrence Schillinger, Compliance Counsel, ISRI. “ISRI partners with police departments across the State to implement proven effective strategies to combat scrap metal theft.”
In support of local charities, Gershow Recycling 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 May 26.
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.
In support of the local community, Gershow Recycling sponsored the Medford Chamber of Commerce’s Memorial Day BBQ, which was held on May 30 at Medford Memorial Park. Gershow sponsored the band and covered the cost of a new barbecue grill for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2937.
First Long Island Tournament of Its Kind to Use Electric Tools to Cut up the Vehicles
In support of local fire departments, Gershow Recycling donated the use of 30 cars for the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament, which was held at the Northport Fire Department’s Training Grounds at Steer’s Pit in Northport on May 14. Gershow also donated the use of its Huntington facility to enable teams to practice in the week leading up to the tournament.
Twenty teams from thirteen fire departments participated in the tournament, which involved groups of five firefighters working to extricate a “victim” from a “crash” using the Jaws of Life. This year marked the first time the firefighters used battery-powered tools during the extrication exercises; the Chuck Varese Vehicle Extrication Tournament was the first such tournament to bring in electric tools.
Each team was judged on the amount of time it took to perform the extrication, the handling of equipment and the safety procedures they followed. The top three teams were:
After the tournament, the vehicles were brought back to Gershow’s facility, where they were shredded and recycled.
Collects 14,940 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 March 20. As part of the fundraiser, Gershow provided the use of a container and collected 14,940 pounds of scrap metal, which wound up being recycled and kept out of landfills. Through the fundraiser and donations made by Gershow, $2,104 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 magnets, so participants could tell if metal is ferrous (such as iron or steel) or nonferrous (such as aluminum, brass or copper).
Since 2013, Gershow has provided 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.
For the second year in a row, Gershow Recycling is sponsoring the Valley Stream Little League (VSLL) for its 2022 season.
Gershow has eight additional locations in Brooklyn, New Hyde Park, Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, Bay Shore, Medford and Riverhead. Gershow’s Valley Stream location pays customers for their unwanted scrap metal, including aluminum, brass, copper, steel, cast iron, appliances, cars and vehicles. It also accepts construction and demolition (C&D) debris at competitive rates.
Established in 1956, VSLL has approximately 2,000 members, comprised of registered players, team and league volunteers, local and regional businesses, community service groups, local media outlets and government officials.
Gershow Recycling recently donated the use of a wrecked car in support of the Town of Huntington’s Anti-Drunk and Distracted Driving Campaign. Presented by Mark Cuthbertson, Councilman, Town of Huntington, and the Huntington Town Board, the program reminds residents of the dangers of drunk or distracted driving during the holidays.
Kevin Gershowitz, President, Gershow Recycling, took part in a press conference that was held on November 30, along with local elected officials, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and law enforcement personnel.
Mr. Gershowitz thanked the Town and MADD for their public awareness efforts and noted that Gershow takes in thousands of vehicles that were involved in serious accidents each year, some of which were the result of drunk driving. “There’s no reason to drive drunk today,” Mr. Gershowitz said. “Technology has afforded us the ability to use Uber, Lyft and all the types of ride-sharing services. I urge you: take advantage of it. Have fun, but stay away from your car if you’ve had too much to drink.
Gershow has nine locations in Brooklyn, New Hyde Park, Valley Stream, Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, Bay Shore, Medford and Riverhead.
Pictured are Eric Kugler (left), Manager, Gershow Recycling, and O’dell Bartholomew (right), a member of Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School’s Class of 2021. Mr. Bartholomew was awarded a one-time scholarship in the amount of $1,000 from Gershow Recycling. As a leading environmental recycling company, Gershow awards the competitive scholarship to graduating seniors who have displayed exemplary efforts in the fields of environmental science or engineering while in high school and plan to continue to pursue higher education degrees in either of these areas of study.
