By Jimmie Davis
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces help safeguard the freedoms Americans enjoy every day. In return, programs such as Cell Phones For Soldiers provide meaningful support to veterans in need by ensuring they have access to reliable communication.
Cell Phones For Soldiers is a national nonprofit organization that has partnered with AT&T to provide free communication services and emergency funding to deployed troops and veterans.
Army veteran Sharmaynne L. Thomas, who sustained injuries that left her disabled and dependent on a service dog, was among the recipients of a free smartphone during a recent distribution event at the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami.
Thomas, who is currently unemployed, learned about the program and came to the Miami VA to receive her new AT&T smartphone.
“I’m very delighted to get a new phone because I need it for communication,” Thomas said during the giveaway held in the auditorium on the second floor. “It’s a bill that I don’t have to pay because I’m in school studying to be a teacher.”
Thomas also volunteers through the VA, helping train service dogs for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
While AT&T is not the official network of the U.S. Department of Defense, the company maintains a strong presence on military installations nationwide. Its network serves as the backbone for the Cell Phones For Soldiers Mobile program, which provides free smartphones and service plans to low-income and homeless veterans.
Army veteran Joy Allington, president of the Broward Veterans Coalition, in partnership with the Florida Veterans Coalition and Cell Phones For Soldiers, helped organize the event and make the phones available to veterans.
“All of the services are unlimited, including talk, text and data,” Allington said during a phone interview. “Veterans also receive internet access and can use the phone as a mobile hotspot.”
Allington said the program fills a critical need for veterans who may not otherwise have access to essential services.
“Many veterans need a phone to order prescriptions, schedule appointments, or reach out for help during a crisis,” she said. “We want to make sure every veteran has access to communication and the resources they need.”
Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Bobby Lewis attended the event and welcomed the opportunity to return to AT&T service.
“When I was stateside, many of the other services had poor coverage,” Lewis said after receiving his smartphone. “I went back to AT&T because their connection was always reliable.”
Lewis said the program is especially important for homeless veterans who often lack access to a phone.
Recipients will receive free phone service through December 2027. What happens after that date remains uncertain.
“Participants may have to begin paying for service, or the program may be extended,” said Rosalie Kolesar, a volunteer who helped register veterans during the event. “At this point, we just don’t know.”
Veterans who were unable to attend the event at the Miami VA Medical Center can still apply for assistance by completing an online application through the Cell Phones For Soldiers website.
