Cell Phone Recycling Drive Underway Benefiting ‘Cell Phones for Soldiers’
Scottsdale, Arizona (PRWEB) October 31, 2011
More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Cell Phones for Soldiers, and Messinger Mortuaries are calling on all Americans to support for these brave men and women by donating your unused cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 1 Million cell phones this year to help keep troops connected with their families.
“Over the past few years, we have been amazed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue,” says Brittany Bergquist, Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder. “It is easy for Americans to make a small sacrifice of support by donating their unused cell phones, and providing families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas.”
Messinger Mortuaries is supporting the collection drive now through November 11th, with help from local radio stations and businesses. Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their used cell phones at several locations around the Phoenix metropolitan area:
Fountain Hills: Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, 12065 N Saguaro Blvd.
Payson: Messinger Payson Funeral Home, 901 S. Westerly Road
Phoenix: Arcadia Tavern, 4801 E Indian School Road
Phoenix: KTAR-FM, 7740 N. 16th Street, Suite 200
Phoenix: KKNT-AM, 2425 E. Camelback Road, Ste. 570
Phoenix: KOY-AM, & KFYI-AM 4686 E Van Buren Street
Phoenix: KSLX-FM, 4343 E Camelback Rd #200
Phoenix: LifeBrokers, 2633 E Indian School Rd #410
Scottsdale: Messinger Indian School Mortuary, 7601 E Indian School Road
Scottsdale: Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 8555 E Pinnacle Peak Road
Scottsdale: Paradise Memorial Gardens (office) 9300 E Shea Blvd.
“We’re proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers, and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers,” says Paul Messinger, of Messinger Mortuaries. Messinger has set up a special website to promote this cell phone recycling program – messingercares.com. It has information about the cell phone recycling drive, a complete listing of recycling events by local radio stations, and directions to drop-off locations.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $ 21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has raised millions of dollars in donations and distributed millions of prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
“We are continuously overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support of thousands of Americans who have helped our troops speak with their loved ones,” says the teens’ father, Bob Bergquist. “However, the need for support keeps growing as more troops are sent to the Middle East or are asked to serve extended tours of duty.” Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $ 10 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones and prepaid service to allow troops abroad to see their families on a regular basis.
The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone – the money is used to purchase prepaid calling cards which are sent to troops.
Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, including:
Gold, silver and platinum from circuit boards
Copper wiring from phone chargers
Nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs
Plastic from phone cases and accessories
About Messinger Mortuaries:
As Scottsdale’s first funeral chapel, Messinger Mortuaries has established a long tradition of service to families of Scottsdale, Pinnacle Peak, Fountain Hills, Payson and the communities of the Northeast Valley. They offer a complete range of funeral and cremation services delivered with the highest standards of care, compassion and dignity. They also own Paradise Memorial Gardens & Mausoleum in Scottsdale, and Mountain Meadows Memorial Park in Payson. For more information, please visit http://www.messingercares.com.
# # #
©Copyright 1997-, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
