Library Collecting Cell Phones To Help Soldiers Phone Home

Ocean County residents can donate their used cell phones at six branches of the Ocean County Library to help purchase international calling cards for military service members.

The Cell Phones For Soldiers program takes place at the Brick, Barnegat, Berkeley, Jackson, Little Egg Harbor and Toms River branches. The used cell phones can be brought to these locations during the month of May in honor of Military Appreciation Month.

“This is a way to recycle your unused or obsolete cell phones and a great way to give back to the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting us each day,” Chief Librarian Rita Oakes said.

Proceeds from the sale of the collected cell phones go to the purchase of international calling cards for U.S. troops on active duty around the world as a way to help them keep in touch with their loved ones back home.

Oakes said those who donate their used cell phone should remove its SIM card before donating it. All personal information will be removed from the phones when they are refurbished.

Cell Phones For Soldiers is a national non-profit organization founded in 2004. The organization is dedicated to serving troops and veterans with free communication services and emergency funding. It has provided more than 220 million minutes of talk time to U.S. troops serving around the world through the group’s Minutes That Matter program and has assisted more than 2,800 veterans through its Helping Heroes Home program.

For information about Cell Phones For Soldiers visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.