U.S. Cellular associates from the Columbia area yesterday delivered 130 personal hygiene kits to the veterans at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, located at 800 Hospital Drive (65201). This effort served as an extension of Operation: Veteran Smiles (OVS), a program created by Amelia Day, a 4-H Club member from Georgia who was named the National 4-H Council’s 4-H Youth in Action National Winner and Citizenship Pillar Winner for 2017.
Amelia founded OVS as a 4-H service project in 2012 after visiting a veteran’s hospital with her dad, a Marine Corps veteran, and noticing that many of the veterans were far from their families and lacking basic toiletries. Through her program, veterans receive handmade cards, toiletries, playing cards and a conversation during the delivery.
OVS has helped more than 4,000 veterans to date, and U.S. Cellular is working to extend its reach by writing cards, packing kits and making deliveries to a total of 13 in-patient veterans’ facilities across the country, including this one in Boone County. U.S. Cellular associates are also spending time socializing with and getting to know the veterans.
U.S. Cellular associates from the Columbia area yesterday delivered 130 personal hygiene kits to the veterans at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital.
“Our associates live and work in the communities we serve and are committed to being involved in their local market,” said Nakeita Stewart, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Missouri and a Columbia resident. “We are proud to support Amelia’s program and extend OVS’ reach to veterans in Columbia.”
This is the third year U.S. Cellular has supported National 4-H Council through a $300,000 donation with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programming, and career exploration and preparation. To learn more about 4-H, visit www.4-H.org and OVS specifically, visit www.4-h.org/ovs.
U.S. Cellular has a longstanding commitment to the community and education. The company has contributed more than $9.65 million to K-12 education since 2009.
For more information, visit uscellular.com/communityinvolvement.
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. U.S. Cellular has the Highest Wireless Network Quality Performance in the North Central Region, according to the J.D. Power 2017 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.
About 4-H
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA, and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/4H.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314) 436-9090