For Immediate Release
MATTOON, Ill. – Oct. 2, 2018 – Consolidated Communications will host an Operation Honor Guard Day of Giving collection point on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the company’s corporate office, 121 S. 17th St., Mattoon, Ill.
The public is invited to make monetary donations to the veteran Honor Guard volunteers from Mattoon, Arcola, Neoga and Sigel who will be gathered at the collection point throughout the day.
It is truly an honor for Consolidated Communications and our employees to host our local veterans for a second year,” said Michael Smith, chief marketing officer at Consolidated Communications. “Our veterans deserve our assistance as they stand behind fallen service members, and our company is excited to help in this initiative.”
Donations from the Mattoon Day of Giving collection site will be distributed to local honor guards to help purchase much needed uniforms. On average, there are seven to eight Honor Guard members at each military funeral and it costs more than $800 to completely outfit each honor guard member. Operation Honor Guard provides charitable assistance to conduct military funerals for veterans and service members.
“I am absolutely amazed at the outpouring of support and generosity Central Illinois has shown our honor guards,” said Rich Darby, founder of Operation Honor Guard. “Raising just over $160,000 last year was more than I could have ever imagined. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg and we have set our goal for $170,000 this year. We are also so very pleased to have Consolidated Communications onboard again this year as a corporate sponsor and a collection site in the Mattoon area. This truly shows me their commitment to the veterans of this nation.”
The parking lot behind the Consolidated Communications corporate office building will be blocked off all day for the donation drive. Donors are asked to pull in from Charleston Avenue and will be directed to exit the lot from the alley on to South 17th Street after making their donation. Consolidated Communications employees will be volunteering at the donation site to assist the veterans and provide traffic assistance.
