At Wireless Zone®, we believe our communities need more than just a wireless retailer and our employees want more than just a job. That’s why we’re committed to making a positive and sustainable impact in the lives of our employees, customers, and communities. During October, November, and December, our employees at Wireless Zone® and TCC have been working hard and giving back in their local communities.
December 2023
Angel Tree Adopt a Family
Kristi Webb, Store Manager – Eastanollee, GA, supported a veteran’s family of seven through a local group, Angel Tree. She donated so many items to this family and the warehouse at Angel Tree.
Gleaners Food Bank Volunteer Event
Store Support employees spent the afternoon at Gleaners Food Bank in Indianapolis, IN. They sorted 1,400 pounds of food for our local Indianapolis community! We have an ongoing partnership with this food bank and volunteer there numerous times throughout the year.
Operation Homefront
Craig Burley has partnered with Operation Homefront for years with community grants and volunteer events. This nonprofit helps build strong, stable, and secure military families by providing relief and recurring family support programs and services.
Because of the relationship Craig has created with this nonprofit, Operation Homefront had a large number of toys and school supplies they wanted to donate and chose to give them to our company! Craig picked up the items and donated them to local schools in lower income areas. He also sent some to help our VILLAGE employee resource group to help with their initiative filling stockings for families with sick children.
Make-A-Wish Request-A-Thon
Store Support helped with the WZPL and Make-A-Wish Request-A-Thon. We provided all the equipment and the phones for this event and helped raise over $1 million for Make-A-Wish!
Get10Give10
Congratulations to Carol F., our most recent Get10Give10 winner after she shopped at the Wireless Zone® Clarks Summit, PA, store! Carol is a lifelong resident of Clarks Summit, and she donated $10,000 to the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church on top of winning $10,000 for herself.
Blessing Bags
Shout out to Karen Daugherty! She created blessing bags for the homeless and left them around the Store Support office. Anyone could pick up one of these bags to give to someone in need.
Elevate Sales Contest
We sent a team of our most elite sales professionals to Orlando for the Elevate Sales Contest. They worked hard to perfect the sales process to elevate customers’ shopping experiences and we put them to the test and asked them to give their best positioning statements and expert recommendations. Congratulations to our winner, Patrick Lynch, and two runners-up, Tyler Crouch and Matt Gibson!
Emergency Food Pantry Volunteer Event
Some of the Wireless Zone® team volunteered at Open Pantry’s Emergency Food Pantry in Springfield, MA, organized by Dave Haryasz. This food pantry has been a community staple since 1975.
Calvary Church and Convoy of Hope Holiday Toy Giveaway
James McFarland partnered with Calvary Church and Convoy of Hope for a toy giveaway where they gave away 3,000 toys and 3,000 pairs of Bombas socks. James helped by taking photos of the event and handing out toys. There was a great turnout at this event, and they gave gifts to over 1,000 families!
Bayhealth Dover Campus Holiday Volunteer Event
Employees from Delaware stores in Dover, Milford, and Harrington, got together and delivered toys to children at Bayhealth Hospital, Dover Campus. This was a really impactful event and they left feeling deeply moved after meeting these brave children.
November 2023
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Volunteer Event
The El Paso, TX, team volunteered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and built beds. They also presented the nonprofit with their $5,000 grant and got to see the supplies they were able to get with the money.
Rock the Pantry
Participating TCC and Wireless Zone® stores partnered with local food banks during the month of November for our very first Rock the Pantry community event! They collected non-perishable food items and participated in volunteer events. Thank you to everyone who helped keep our local communities fed during the holiday season.
Homes of Hope Volunteer Event
The Lewiston, ID, team volunteered with Homes of Hope. This nonprofit provides free support services to foster, adoptive, and biological families impacted by the foster care system. Our team helped wrap Christmas gifts for foster children.
Lewis Clark Animal Shelter Volunteer Event
The Lewiston, ID, team volunteered at the Lewis Clark animal shelter. They helped with laundry, cleaned the facility and dog igloos, and took the dogs for walks.
91 Place Volunteer Event
When the Wireless Zone® team visited our Store Support office in Fishers, Indiana, over 30 people participated in a volunteer event at 91 Place, one of the Indianapolis organizations that was a $100,000 MEGA Grant recipient. They helped get furniture together and moved items for The Haven Therapy Center.
October 2023
Cats Haven Volunteer Event
The Learning & Development team has a longstanding partnership with Cats Haven and continues to volunteer with the organization multiple times a quarter. They spent a beautiful fall day outside painting and adding some cheer and color to the rescue’s front porch. Barbara, the founder of Cats Haven, was excited about the addition of color, plus all the kitties were happy to get some snuggles and attention.
Hamilton County Humane Society
Store Support supply chain team members and others helped our local pups and kitties at the Hamilton County Humane Society in Fishers, IN. We’ve been supporting this organization for years and frequently volunteer to help with routine facility maintenance and animal care.
More Than a Tailgate
We had a great Sunday morning tailgating at the Crane Bay Event Center in downtown Indianapolis before the Colts game for the More Than a Tailgate fundraiser. The best part? All proceeds went to More Than a Phone so we can continue to keep survivors of domestic violence connected with free smartphones and data service.
M.O.R.E. fund Journey Home Donation
The M.O.R.E. fund, run by Scott (Round Room CEO) and Julie (Round Room Gives Executive Director), donated to the Journey Home capital campaign on behalf of the Round Room family. This campaign is raising money to build, equip, and furnish a new home for Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS). This new building will include an on-site medical facility, improved living conditions for the animals, a public dog park, and a food pantry.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Volunteer Event
The UNY/Pittsburgh sales region volunteered with Central NY Sleep in Heavenly Peace. They built new beds for 14 kids, and some team members even drove six hours just to attend this event! This region plans to volunteer again with the organization in the spring.
Turning Point Volunteer Event
To round out Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sara Williams and her team, along with Courtney Kibble, volunteered at one of our More Than a Phone partners, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services in Columbus, IN. They were greeted with open arms by the staff and got a tour of their new administration building. The staff was busy decorating for a Halloween trick or treat event that was planned for the next day, where families they support would come in costumes to join in some spooky fun!
The group then went over to the shelter and deep-cleaned the kitchen, bathroom, and living room for the residents. As a communal living space for families who have experienced trauma, cleaning is not always high on the priority list. Therefore, their work was deeply appreciated, and the smiles kept coming throughout the afternoon.
They ended the event by touring the “free store” utilized by survivors who are entering the shelter and a presentation by two of the advocates who hand out the More Than a Phone devices. Courtney said, “We all walked away from the volunteer event with a renewed appreciation for these programs we support with MTAP and the staff told us repeatedly that they are so thankful for the phones and the communication they provide their survivors!”
Haircuts for the City Volunteer Event
James McFarland volunteered at the second annual Haircuts for the City event, put on by Brooks Behavioral Health Services in Frederick, MD. They provided haircuts, food, clothing, and more for those in need. In total, they gave over 200 free haircuts! James assisted with the event by taking photos of the event and shooting family portraits.
Foster Pride
Watch this video about Regional Field Director Sammy Hernandez! Sammy shares his incredible story of working with Foster Pride, a nonprofit organization in New York that helped him as a foster child through adulthood. Sammy’s story has come full circle, and he is now able to support Foster Pride through community grants.
Learn more about the ways we give back year-round here. Plus, check out what we were up to last quarter now.