South Jersey Gas, SJI celebrate Earth Day and National Safe Digging Month

In celebration of Earth Day and National Safe Digging Month, South Jersey Gas recently provided resources as well as volunteer and educational support to local efforts for safer and cleaner communities.

Employees from South Jersey Gas and its parent company, South Jersey Industries, attended various cleanup events, promoted energy efficiency at community gatherings and capped off the monthlong focus on sustainability and safety with a “Dig-in and Learn” event.

On April 18, employees partnered with the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey to clean up and beautify the Maurice River Bluffs Nature Preserve in Millville. Along with volunteer activities by company employees, South Jersey Gas also distributed $14,471 to the conservancy as part of a more than $28,000 commitment to the organization in 2023 from SJI and its employees.

On the weekend of Earth Day, April 22, employees volunteered at Stockton University’s Community Day Cleanup in Atlantic City. In addition, the energy efficiency team at South Jersey Gas attended the Cape May County Zoo’s Earth Day Celebration and the Atlantic County Utilities Authority’s Earth Day Festival.

The “Dig-in and Learn” event on April 26 was a collaborative effort between South Jersey Gas’ Damage Prevention Team and SJI’s Green Team to showcase how underground damage prevention can apply to environmental restoration. The Damage Prevention Team explained the importance of calling 811 before digging on your property and demonstrated how utility experts mark underground utility lines before starting an excavation project.

Following the demonstration, the SJI Green Team planted a tree alongside members of the Hammonton Green Committee and Folsom Green Team to mark a donation of 100 trees to the two environmentally focused civic organizations. The approximately 100 attendees of the event each received tree saplings to share in their neighborhoods.

“Regardless of the type of project, South Jersey Gas aims to conduct business in a manner that protects and sustains the safety and well-being of our customers, employees and the communities we serve,” said Cristina Fernandez, director of operations support for South Jersey Gas. “These demonstrations highlight the important role safety plays in our company’s overarching effort to create a clean energy future.”

The “Dig-in and Learn” event was part of the company’s long-held tradition of providing time and resources to organizations and initiatives that share the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship during the month of April.