Detroit Has New Bus Stop Benches Thanks To These Volunteers

DETROIT, MI — The city of Detroit has been outfitted with some brand new benches at its local bus stops, thanks to a group of volunteers from a company that has a mission to give back.

In support of AT&T’s Believe Detroit initiative, AT&T employees on Friday volunteered their time and skill to Sit On It Detroit as they help construct benches for bus stops throughout Detroit.
Sit On It Detroit is a local nonprofit devoted to providing commuters with comfortable seating and reading.

Since its founding in 2013, the organization has installed over 200 benches at bus stops throughout Detroit --most equipped with storage beneath, providing readers with access to a community library while they wait for the bus.

To date, over 10,000 books have been donated to the Sit On It Detroit and more than 700 individuals have volunteered their time and effort to the project.

More than 20 local AT&T employees joined Friday when they spent the day at Sit On It Detroit’s workshop building benches to be deployed at bus stops throughout the community.

“Giving back to the community is a big part of our culture here at AT&T, and I think our employees have found a worthy cause in Sit On It Detroit,” said David Lewis, President of AT&T. “It may not seem like a big deal, but these benches really do brighten the community and make for a better quality of life for all of Detroit’s commuter, and I’m extremely proud of our employees for volunteering their time to support that.”

AT&T also contributed $10,000 to the project to purchase lumber and other raw materials necessary to construct the benches.

Friday’s project is part of AT&T’s “Believe Detroit” initiative, a community and employee engagement project aimed at helping promote educational opportunities and academic achievement for students in the City of Detroit.

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