Verizon Wireless Launches 5th Annual 'Kids In Need Holiday Drive' In Connecticut

WALLINGFORD, CT — To make the holidays a little brighter for children living in domestic violence shelters, Verizon Wireless is conducting its annual 'Kids In Need Holiday Drive' for the fifth consecutive year at its Communications Stores throughout New England. Each store has 'adopted' a local domestic violence shelter in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, and will collect from the community new unwrapped toys, games, and books for children ranging in age from infants to teens.

Now through December 15, the Verizon Wireless Communications Stores listed at the end of this release (with their individual shelter matches) will serve as drop-off points for the Kids In Need Holiday Drive. Verizon Wireless' chief community relations initiative is domestic violence awareness and prevention. The Kids In Need Holiday Drive is an extension of that initiative focused on children, the most innocent victims of domestic violence.

In an ongoing show of support, Connecticut television stations News Channel 8 (WTNH) and UPN-9 have signed on as broadcast sponsors for this year's Kids In Need Holiday Drive.

"Unfortunately, there are many children who live in shelters with their mothers, having fled their homes because of domestic abuse. When they flee, most children just have the clothes on their back, often leaving a favorite toy, game or book behind," said Bob Stott, president of the New England Region for Verizon Wireless. "As a company we have a long-standing commitment of helping victims of domestic violence. This is one more way we can help - particularly when agencies serving domestic violence victims tell us they need support this year more than ever."

Through its HopeLine® program, Verizon Wireless puts wireless phones, airtime and voice mailboxes to work to combat domestic violence. The company understands that domestic violence is an epidemic that devastates neighbors, friends and co-workers, and dedicates its resources to both the prevention of domestic violence and the life rebuilding process. As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs, Verizon Wireless, in the last four years, has collected more than two million phones and donated $8 million in financial grants, phones and services to domestic violence organizations and advocacy groups across the country.

The following Verizon Wireless stores are accepting Kids In Need donations:

Store / Street / Phone / Recipient / Shelter

Avon:
530 Bushy Hill Road. (Route 44)
860-651-4002
Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury

Danbury:
15 Federal Road (Brookfield)
203-740-3700
Women's Center of Greater Danbury

Enfield:
136 Elm Street
860-745-3300
Network Against Domestic Abuse/ Enfield

Fairfield:
1201 Kings Highway East
203-366-5200
Center for Women & Families/Bridgeport

Farmington:
West Farms Mall
860-521-1311
Interval House/ Hartford

Manchester:
82D Buckland St. (Burr Corners)
860-643-1160
United Services Domestic Violence Program/ Willimantic and Dayville

Meriden:
470 Lewis Ave
203-639-9097
Meriden-Wallingford
Chrysalis

Milford:
Westfield Shopping Town
203-878-0133
Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven

Newington:
3219 Berlin Turnpike
860-666-9019
Prudence Crandall Center For Women/ New Britain

North Haven:
91 Washington Avenue
203-239-0000
Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven

Norwalk:
48 Westport Avenue
203-840-0021
Center for Women & Families/Bridgeport

Old Saybrook:
105 Elm St. (next to Stop & Shop)
860-388-1106
Domestic Violence Valley Shore Services/Westbrook

Orange:
116 Boston Post Road
203-795-6259
The Umbrella/ Ansonia

Stamford:
972 High Ridge Rd.
Stamford Town Center
203-968-6116
203-325-3282
Domestic Abuse Services/Greenwich
YWCA

Torrington:
1891 East Main Street
860-496-7778
Susan B. Anthony Project

Trumbull:
Trumbull Mall
203-374-6012
Center for Women & Families/Bridgeport

Waterford:
Crystal Mall
860-405-2200
Women's Center of Southeastern CT

West Hartford:
Corbins Corner
860-313-5200
Interval House/ Hartford

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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