2023 We CAN Make a Difference Food Drive

McMinnville, Tenn., December 21, 2023 – Ben Lomand Connect is making a difference with donations to local food pantries with its annual holiday food drive.  Pantries in Warren, White, Coffee, Grundy, Van Buren, and Cumberland counties will benefit from the generous donations brought by Ben Lomand Connect customers and employees.   1,347 items were collected, and Ben Lomand Connect donated over $635.00 to purchase more.

In November, Ben Lomand’s offices began collecting food donations throughout their territory and at Citizens Tri-County Bank in Van Buren County. Along with the food items, Ben Lomand Connect matched with a monetary donation of fifty cents per item.

Greg Smartt, Ben Lomand Connect CEO, states, “I would like to thank all the employees and customers who gave to our 4th Annual Ben Lomand Connect Food Drive this year. A few of our offices saw record numbers of items dropped off, which also saw larger checks being given to local food banks. For nearly 70 years, we have strived to help connect the communities we serve through our services and hearts. Our hope is that some households have a little brighter Christmas this year due to everyone’s efforts.”

Over the four years of the annual food drive, BLC has collected over 7,400 food items and contributed more than $3,300 to area food pantries.

Ben Lomand Connect would like to thank Citizens Tri-County Bank for allowing collections at their Spencer location. Their efforts are appreciated, and their employees generously contribute as well.

Ben Lomand Connect began serving customers on October 1, 1954, to provide local telephone service to rural middle Tennessee. The cooperative has grown to over 32,000 broadband connections with 21,000 phone lines servicing residential and business customers throughout our area. BLC also offers Managed IT, video (BLTV), security (Ben Lomand Security/Arlo Cameras), Managed Wi-Fi (Ben Lomand Home), and a mobile medical security service (Secure Everywhere). Over the last three decades, Ben Lomand Connect has laid over 4,200 miles of fiber throughout their area.