Dozens of Thanksgiving Meals: TruGrid Gives Back

When Turkey Donations Fell Short, Our Team Made Sure Thanksgiving Still Happened 

In South Texas, one of our project teams has been busy finishing a battery energy storage system (BESS) project near Harlingen. While the team continues to work hard to keep the project on time and on budget, the approaching holiday season shifted their hearts and efforts to a very deserving cause. When the crew learned that the Harlingen Neighborhood Food Pantry, a local nonprofit serving families in need, would not be receiving its usual turkey donation this year, they knew they needed to step in. 

When speaking with the food pantry staff, the team heard how much this shortage would affect local families. The staff shared, “People often line up as early as 8 p.m. the night before food distributions, hoping to secure a turkey for their Thanksgiving meal. For many, the holiday simply does not feel complete without it.”  

So, how did the project team respond? They held a food drive to support the community that they are both building in and living in during construction. Their goal was to provide more than two dozen holiday meals with all the fixings.

“Our team spends months in these communities,” said Daniel McRen, Construction Manager at TruGrid. “It is important to us to leave a positive mark beyond the work we’re doing on-site. When we heard about the need, everyone wanted to pitch in. It just felt like the right thing to do.” 

Together they donated 29 meals that include: 

• Pies 

• Turkeys  

• Green beans 

• Corn 

• Mashed potatoes 

• Stuffing 

• Gravy 

TruGrid is proud of our team for stepping in to help when the pantry needed it most. Meeting energy demands is part of our purpose, but so is showing up for the people and places that surround our projects. Great work, team!

Lending a Hand to Fight Food Insecurity in Houston 

While the project crew made its donation, corporate office employees spent the morning volunteering at the Houston Food Bank. In the Houston metro, more than 1 million people experience food insecurity, and roughly 15% of households are affected. Our team’s time there helped support an organization that’s tackling a critical and urgent need. 

We joined hundreds of other volunteers to sort and package food that will reach families across the area. Community involvement is an important part of who we are, and TruGrid encourages employees to participate in volunteer opportunities, whether it’s through company events or personal acts of service. 

“It was great to see how many people came together for one cause,” said Brad Onischuk, Senior Project Manager. “The impact the Food Bank makes every day is incredible, and being able to contribute even a few hours of our time reminded us how important it is to stay connected to the communities we serve.” 

Shoutout to our team for making time to get out and give back!

Why It Matters

Whether it is a jobsite crew loading donations or folks in the office volunteering at a local food bank, the motivation is the same: showing care and compassion to people in need.

TruGrid’s work is rooted in connection, providing communities with reliable energy and a stronger future. But our responsibility goes beyond our projects. Showing up for our communities outside of our energy work is just as important as any task on the job. It means being present and recognizing that our impact reaches beyond the projects we build.  

Every volunteer, food donation and act of service reflects the same commitment that drives our projects: integrity, teamwork, and care for others. These moments of generosity are reminders that energy is not just something we deliver; it is something we create together through our actions.