The Pioneer Valley Chapter, meanwhile, dispatched eight volunteers to New York state, with 20 more scheduled to leave.
SPRINGFIELD – From caravans of volunteer relief workers to a $100,000 donation from MassMutual Financial Group, Western Massachusetts is reaching out to hurricane-ravaged regions along the East Coast.
After dodging the worst of Superstorm Sandy, the area has responded with an outpouring of support to flooded and wind-lashed sections of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.
Roger Crandall, chairman, president and CEO of MassMutual, announced Wednesday that the company will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross disaster relief fund, and match contributions made by employees for storm relief.
“During this most difficult time, our thoughts are with the people impacted by this epic storm,” Crandall said. “We hope that MassMutual’s support will help bring some relief to those in need.”
MassMutual, three of its subsidiaries and a number of its agencies have operations in the hardest hit areas including New York and New Jersey, according to Crandall, who said the company’s employees, field partners and customers have been extensively impacted by the storm.
Operations at the home office locations in Springfield and Enfield are currently up and running, Crandall said.
Rick Lee, director of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, expressed gratitude for the MassMutual donation.
“MassMutual has regularly been among the first to support Red Cross relief efforts in the past at major disaster events all across the country,” Lee said.
The Pioneer Valley Chapter, meanwhile, dispatched eight volunteers to New York state Tuesday, with 20 more scheduled to leave Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m.
The local volunteers are part of a national outpouring of support by the Red Cross and other groups for residents along the path of the monster storm.
Crews from Chicopee Electric Light, and several each from Holyoke Gas and Electric and Westfield Gas and Electric are also working to provide assistance to hard-hit areas outside the region, said Chicopee Electric Light general manger Jeffrey R. Cady.
Some crews have been working in the Berkshires, where whole towns lost power during the storm. Others have gone to southern Connecticut, which was hard hit, he said.
The municipal utilities are working with other municipal crews as well as Western Massachusetts Electric Company, Cady said.
“The last thing we want is people to be without electricity for a long time,” he said.
Staff writer Jeanette DeForge contributed to this report.