Angelo Grande, chairperson for community service for the Long Island Zone of Retired Educators of New York (RENY) and Kathryn Grande, co-chair of Glen Head presented a donation of brand-new clothing, socks, shirts and underwear to be given to the homeless men and women veterans in Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as the Beacon Houses for the holidays. They presented the items to the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency in East Meadow.
“It is a pleasure to serve our veterans, who served our country to make it possible for all of us to be here today,” Ralph Esposito, director of Nassau County Veteran Service Agency said.
Esposito explained that the agency hosts two “stand downs” each year that serve veterans in need. They served 525 veterans this past November.
The agency distributes food, turkeys, brand new coats, shoes, boots, clothing and more.
The Nassau County Veterans Service Agency also feed the homeless veterans daily through its ongoing food pantry (weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon) at its East Meadow office.
RENY members also wrote nearly 300 holiday cards to the veterans. They also made a donation last year for the “stand down.”
RENY, formerly known as New York State Teachers’ Association, is open to retired public school teachers, personnel and administrators. They were happy to make this donation to local veterans.
—Long Island Zone of Retired Educators of New York