AFRC begins Cell Phones for Soldiers collection drive

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The Airman and Family Readiness Center is now participating in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program.

More than four years ago, teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist started Cell Phones for Soldiers, a charity that collects used cell phones, sells them to recyclers, and then uses the proceeds to purchase prepaid calling cards for military personnel of all service branches stationed abroad.

This year they've distributed 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards to military personnel in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

The AFRC, Base Exchange, library, Crosswinds and Westside base restaurants have placed receptacles in visible areas where Hill Air Force Base personnel can drop off their unwanted cell phones, personal digital assistants, beepers and other electronic devices.

"We were contacted by the regional representative, Mr. Earl 'Scotty' MacKenzie, a Purple Heart recipient, and asked if we were interested," said Carole Beasley, AFRC director. "Of course we are, anything we can do to assist the deployed member and the families is of interest to us at Airman and Family Readiness Center and this program seemed a good way to involve our community as well. I know from experience there are lots of people out there who are interested in supporting the military family but don't know who to contact or what to do."

The donated phones and electronic devices are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each device. Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in more than 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, such as gold, silver and platinum from the device's circuit boards.

"Our goal is to ensure healthy communications between the deployed member and their families back home, whether that be a spouse, child or parent," Beasley says. "With adequate communication, the member, knowing all is well at home, can focus on the mission and the deployments are easier on the families. It also aides the reunion process as the member is kept abreast of school, work and other daily events experienced by the family in his or her absence."

In addition to donating unwanted cell phones, people can also donate money via the non-profit's website, cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

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