Related articles
It's Friday - Recycle cell phones for charity
KENN FILKINS
Reports indicate that over 150 million retired cell phones have been discarded in drawers, closets and desks in the United States.
Our home has three or four used cell phones right now.
But not for long.
I'm putting those old cell phones to work.
For charity.
Research this week revealed what can be done with used cell phones once a person upgrades to the new cell phone program. Many worthy charities could receive help by the donation of used cell phones.
Those charities can be half-way around the world or right next door.
Some send aide to victims of the tsunami, others provide assistance to senior citizens, battered women, veterans, national charities, overseas missionaries, military men and women, and many more.
Organizations take the donated cell phones which are then resold with the profits going to charity. Often, phones are resold in developing countries that lack land-lines or where the cost of a new phone is prohibitive. Phones that are obsolete are recycled for the re-useable parts and then disposed of according to environmental safety guidelines.
Some organizations help local charity groups raise funds from cell phone donations for causes in their communities. I've not heard of any groups from the Eastern Upper Peninsula collecting cell phones as a fund-raiser, but I'm spreading the word about the possibility.
Donating a cell phone is not only good for the charity of your choice - it's also healthy for the environment. Cell phones contain a large number of hazardous substances, which can pollute the air when burned in incinerators and leak into soil and drinking water when buried in landfills. These persistent toxic substances include antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc.
If you've ever wondered who would want a cell phone that's outdated, here are some organizations that collect used cell phones for charitable purposes.
Please note that you will need to research any of the following organizations (or any others you find) before you donate your phones. These days, it seems that for every reputable organization, there is another one ready to scam concerned citizens. So, please check before you send a donation to any group, charity or association.
At www.americancellphonedrive.org, the organization uses the funds from used cell phone sales to provide emergency communications for underprivileged communities. They also raise funds to send missionaries to China, treat malnourished children in Asia after the tsunami, and build new homes for low-income families. Over 4,000 nationwide and local organizations have generated thousands of dollars with the help of this group. They have drop sites all over the U.S., or cell phones can be shipped to their location.
At www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com you can learn about the Cell Phones for Soldiers program, which was started in 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts. After hearing a news report about a local soldier who ran up a massive phone bill calling home from Iraq, they decided they wanted to collect used cell phones to provide soldiers with prepaid calling cards. Jim Kelly, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, joined their cause as a sponsor.
At www.veteransadvantage.com, a group of veterans serve the needs of others veterans all across the nation, in part through funds collected from used cell phone donations.
At www.charmeck.org, you'll find Women's Commission that collects used cell phones for domestic violence victims. The phones are used for 911 Emergency Calls and fund-raising.
Organizations like, www.phones4charity.org, www.wirelessrecycling.com and www.charitablerecycling.com provide for local “used cell phone” fund-raising for an organization, charity or company. They assist with phone donations for national charity organizations, the protection of senior citizens through 911 cell phones, the March of Dimes, and veterans programs, to name a few. Maybe more importantly, they help local groups raise money through used cell phone donations for local causes and charities. Check out their Web sites as well as www.americancellphonedrive.org for the details.
Used cell phones.
You know you have them.
You don't use them.
You don't need them.
So, why not help someone out rather than throwing them away?
Source: http://www.sooeveningnews.com/articles/2006/02/24/news/news360.txt
Donate Your Old Cell Phone To Charity
February 6, 2006
Are you wondering what to do with your old cell phones?
Students at Portsmouth High School are collecting old cell phones to raise money for the school's Students Against Destructive Decisions" organization.
To donate your phone, bring it to the main office at Portsmouth High during school hours. Or to locate a drop-off site in your area log on to cellulardonation.org and type in your ZIP code.
SADD organizes presentations to raise awareness on the dangers of drunken driving and holds events such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving's "Tie One on for Safety," campaign in December and "Kick Butts Day," in April to discourage smoking.
The American Cellular Donation Organization is supporting the drive. The organization sells working phones to an affiliate company and recycles non-working phones according to guidelines set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
All of the proceeds from the sale of the phones collected in this drive will go to the SADD group at Portsmouth High School.
Source: http://www.turnto10.com/news/6790095/detail.html
|
