Nov. 22, 2018
On Thanksgiving, U.S. Cellular associates provided free phone calls and internet access at the annual Thanksgiving Day meal hosted by Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM). The associates also donated pies and desserts to the meal so that attendees could enjoy a sweet treat.
Tom Catani, left, vice president of U.S. Cellular, and U.S. Cellular associates and family members volunteered Thanksgiving Day at Knox Area Rescue Ministries to help the needy and homeless connect with family and friends with free phone calls and internet access. From left, Catani, Robby Vann, Jan Paolucci, Stefan Wankerl, Bo Jones, Pam Hardison, Randy Jones, Dan Byers, Cindy Byers, Leanet Grindel, Rich Grindel, Steven Tsuyuki, Deb Klehr, Mikayla Porras and Julia Shannon.
Being able to share a meal and call families and loved ones is something U.S. Cellular knows should never be taken for granted, along with the luxury of Internet access. For those who do not have these amenities, U.S. Cellular continued its commitment to the community by providing free phone calls and internet access at the annual Thanksgiving Day meal hosted by Knox Area Rescue Ministries in Knoxville. The wireless company has offered the free calling program at KARM on Thanksgiving for more than a decade, and this is the fifth year providing internet access as well.
“Calling and connecting with friends and family around the holidays is a special joy, but not everyone in our community has the opportunity to do so,” said Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Tennessee. “At U.S. Cellular we focus on keeping people connected no matter where they are across the world, and that’s why it’s especially significant for us to provide phones and internet access to individuals in need during the Thanksgiving holiday season.”
U.S. Cellular associate Steven Tsuyuki helps Gary Miller call his 93-year-old mother in North Carolina. Miller’s car broke down in Knoxville, and he had not been able to reach his mother. The U.S. Marines veteran hopes to be in en route home Friday.
U.S. Cellular provided free local and long-distance calls to homeless individuals and those in need as part of the KARM annual community meal, which serves more than 1,000 homeless or hungry people each year. U.S. Cellular associates and their family members volunteered at the event to assist attendees with making free phone calls to family and friends across the country on Thanksgiving Day. The company also provided tablets with internet access to check on family and friends, job opportunities and housing options.
About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier offers coverage where the other carriers don’t and a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. For the fifth time in a row, U.S. Cellular has the Highest Wireless Network Quality Performance, according to J.D. Power’s twice-annual U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study, and 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.
