Ice cream and gasoline: Windstream offers treats

Free gas, flowers and ice cream are just some of the ways Windstream plans to reward Iowans this week during the company’s “Random Acts of Kindness” tour in Central Iowa.

Windstream Corp. will be sending out its iconic green truck to deliver surprises and treats for Central Iowans. The green truck will be in Knoxville on Tuesday and Newton on Wednesday performing the random acts of kindness, which include buying cold drinks and ice cream for residents, surprising citizens with flowers or filling up their gas tanks, according to a company spokesperson.

Because the acts really are “random”, the company is offering few specifics on where they will take place, but advises citizens to keep an eye out for the green truck. Locals also can stop by Windstream’s Lifetime Tour on Thursday at Music in the Park in Grinnell.

Windstream completed a transaction for Iowa Telecom in June. The company announced shortly thereafter that it would lay off about 60 employees, including 35 in Newton. Company spokespersons have indicated that more layoffs are possible by the end of the year. But they have also said they hope to expand the call center operation in Newton located at the former Maytag corporate headquarters.