GCI employees are showing up for their neighbors, collecting supplies, restoring service and offering hope
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – In the wake of Typhoon Halong, GCI employees are rallying to support Western Alaska communities devastated by the storm. An employee-led donation drive is collecting urgently needed supplies to help residents recover and rebuild. The storm brought powerful winds and flooding that displaced families, destroyed homes, and damaged critical infrastructure in many rural communities that are far from the nearest highway, reachable primarily by small aircraft or boat.
Among the approximately 1,000 Alaskans displaced by the storm are GCI employees, some of whom lost their homes, yet continue to work tirelessly to restore connectivity and support their neighbors. GCI leadership has emphasized that employees should prioritize their own well-being and families first. Even so, many have stepped up in extraordinary ways, both through their roles at GCI and as community volunteers.
GCI Accountant Lovina Arnold, who is from Kipnuk and is leading the company’s donation drive, highlights GCI’s $100,000 donation to the Alaska Community Foundation’s Western Alaska Disaster Relief 2025 Fund.
The donation drive is led by Lovina Arnold, a GCI accountant based in Anchorage who is from Kipnuk, one of the communities hit hardest by the storm.
“I grew up in Kipnuk,” Lovina said. “My family still lives there, and it is where my late mother rests. When I heard about the storm’s impact, I knew I had to do something. I am proud to work for a company that encourages us to step up and support our communities. It’s not just about doing our jobs. It’s about showing up and coming together for the people and places that mean everything to us.”
“Some of my team members lost their homes, and even though we’ve asked them to take care of themselves and their families first, they’re still out there restoring service, assessing damage, and helping with whatever their communities need,” said GCI Field Operations Manager Ricky Ramos, who lives in Bethel. “They’re checking on neighbors, delivering supplies and making sure people can reconnect with loved ones. It’s not just technical work, it’s personal. These are their families, their friends, their neighbors, their villages. Their resilience and compassion are what make Alaska special, and I’m honored to work alongside them.”
GCI is working closely with other Alaska organizations, like the Alaska Community Foundation (ACF), to support recovery efforts and is donating $100,000 to ACF’s Western Alaska Disaster Relief 2025 Fund. In addition to the monetary contribution, GCI is also providing generators and phone chargers to assist with the response efforts.
How to Help
Donate Items:
Drop off essential supplies at designated GCI retail stores in Anchorage (C Street, Dimond Center, East, Abbott), Wasilla, and Fairbanks. Donations will be accepted through October 27.
Urgently needed items include, but are not limited to:
- Medical supplies (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, band-aids, etc.)
- Nonperishable food
- Phone chargers
- Blankets and bedding
- Diapers, wipes, baby formula
- New socks, gloves, underwear
- Winter gear
- Hygiene products (men’s and women’s)
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Clorox wipes
- Headlamps and flashlights
- Rubber gloves
Shop the Amazon Wish List:
For those who wish to donate items directly, or for anyone inside or outside Alaska who is unable to drop off donations at a GCI location, the Bethel Community Services Foundation (BCSF) has created an Amazon Wish List of urgently needed supplies. Items purchased from this list will ship directly to BCSF for distribution to those in need.
Donate to the Relief Fund:
You can also contribute to ACF’s Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, which will provide support to affected communities for immediate relief, recovery support and long-term resilience. Distribution decisions for the fund will be guided by advisors, including regional leaders and stakeholders, to ensure resources reach affected communities based on locally identified needs.
GCI will continue to share updates on restoration efforts and community support initiatives as they are available. For more information, follow GCI on social media.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is an independent publicly traded company (Nasdaq: GLIBA, GLIBK, GLIBB) Learn more at https://www.gciliberty.com/.
Media Contact
Josh Edge
Phone: 907-575-3622
Email: jedge@gci.com
PR Archives: Latest, By Company, By Date