Our Year in Review
As the year is wrapping up, we’ve been reflecting on all that we’ve been up to in 2022. From grants and growth to making connections and giving back, all that we’ve done has been driven by our mission: provide state of the art communications and technology solutions enabled by a culture of excellence in customer service. Although no longer in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year did have its challenges. Throughout it all though, SkyLine/SkyBest is thankful to all of our wonderful customers who trust us and help us support our communities daily.
Growth & More Growth
This year we saw grants won in 2021 come to fruition, along with continuing to apply for others. We have been able to install and provide high-speed internet service to communities in four counties in NC and one county in Tennessee, giving them the capability to participate in remote learning, work from home, or even just enjoy their favorite streaming service.
Along with these grants and expansions, we have continued participating in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), an FCC program that seeks to provide internet service at a discounted rate to eligible households, giving everyone the opportunity to receive high speed internet.
In the Community
As a member-owned co-op we see the value in investing into the communities we serve, starting with company-wide efforts like participating in Christmas gift programs, our Relay for Life drive in the fall and our blood drives throughout the year.
However, so much of what we are able to do is because of our thoughtful and giving customers who reciprocate our drive to better our community. Here are some of the ways you helped us give back this year:
SkyChange:
SkyChange is a program that allows customers the opportunity to round up their bill to the nearest dollar to donate to organizations throughout the High Country. This year, SkyChange donated to:
- The Nest Alliance – an organization with the goal of providing a place of refuge and hope for children and their families
- Area food pantries
- The Quiet Givers – an organization that allows people to donate anonymously to a need someone in the community has.
Breakfast Food Drive
Every September – October, customers can participate in SkyLine’s breakfast food drive. Breakfast foods are some of the most needed donations to local food pantries. Customers can visit their local SkyLine Customer Center, pick up a reusable grocery bag and a grocery list, and shop for those in need in our community. This year we donated thousands of pounds of food to Solid Rock Food Pantry, Ashe County Sharing Center Pantries, Hunger and Health Coalition, Reaching Avery Ministry and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast TN.
As we close the chapter on 2022 and look forward to 2023, we can’t help but reflect on the partnership we have in our communities, what those partnerships have generated and what they will in the future. Thank you to all of our wonderful customers for an incredible 2022, we look forward to serving you and working with you in 2023.