Verizon Wireless Encourages Support for Southern Storm Victims, Continues Smithville Relief Efforts

TUPELO and SMITHVILLE, Miss., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless has implemented a mobile giving program for customers looking to contribute to Smithville, Miss. and other southern residents who have recently experienced storm destruction. Additionally, Verizon's Crisis Response Team will remain in Smithville through Friday, May 6 to provide storm victims with water, charging stations, and activated phones on site, to help families contact loved ones in the devastating aftermath of last week's tornadoes.

Customers wishing to contribute to Mississippi and other relief efforts through national and local charities may quickly donate $10 by texting the following designated words to the numbers below:

• Text MS to 27722 for Mississippi Disaster Recovery Fund
• Text GIVE to 80888 for the Salvation Army
• Text REDCROSS to 90999 for American Red Cross Relief
• Text SHOES to 85944 for Samaritan's Feet
• Text 4TORNADO or TWISTER to 20222 for Save the Children
• Text TORNADO to 20222 for World Vision
• Text CONVOY to 50555 for Convoy of Hope
• Text OKGIVE to 27722 for Tushka Disaster Relief Fund
• Text SUPPORT to 27722 for United Way of Russell and Washington Counties
• Text TORNADO to 50555 for United Way of Central Alabama

One hundred percent of the donation goes to the relief organization.

Emergency Services Available in Smithville, MS

A Verizon Wireless RV has been stationed in the parking lot beside the Piggly Wiggly grocery store on Highway 25 since last Friday offering residents, emergency management officials and first responders a place to charge wireless devices or connect to the internet via tablets and laptop computers. The Crisis Response Team has a supply of activated phones for use on site for anyone whose phone may have been lost or damaged during the storm. The charging station is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A Cell on Light Truck (COLT) was deployed immediately after the tornadoes, providing the Smithville area with enhanced network capacity, which was needed to manage increased cell traffic. Verizon's Tupelo retail location (located at 3945 North Gloster) also is fully operational and available to serve neighboring Smithville residents and customers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit 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.  

SOURCE Verizon Wireless