Senator Phil Boyle Hosts Event To Help Our Troops Call Home

Phil Boyle

July 2, 2013

Thanks The Community For Generous Used Cell Phone Donations

Babylon, NY – Senator Phil Boyle (R- Bay Shore) teamed up with Cell Phones For Soldiers, Inc. on June 29, 2013 at the American Legion Hall 94 in Babylon to collect used cellular phones for the purpose of providing service men and women in uniform with precious talk time with their families.

“I am proud to be part of this effort to give our soldiers free phone time with their loved ones back home while they serve our country,” Senator Boyle said.  “My wholehearted thanks to the community for their generous donations for our service men and women, and to Cell Phones For Soldiers for ultimately distributing the free calling cards to our troops.”

Senator Boyle and Cell Phones For Soldiers collected used cell phones so that their parts, containing valuable technology, can be recycled by a major e-cycling company.  The proceeds are then used to purchase calling cards for troops, many of whom are deployed overseas.

Cell Phones for Soldiers, Inc. is a nonprofit that was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided 181 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and women stationed around the world. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 12,000 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

Approximately half of the donated phones are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly 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, and plastic from phone cases and accessories.

For more information about Cell Phone For Soldiers, Inc. visit cellphonesforsoldiers.com.