HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 EVERYONE!

PERHAPS YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, OR PERHAPS YOU DON'T--EITHER WAY, MANY OF YOU MAY BE GETTING NEW CELL PHONES. BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR OLD ONE? HERE IS A 'GREEN WAY' TO RID YOURSELF OF YOUR OLD CELL PHONE AND HELP OUR TROOPS ABROAD CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT NO COST TO THEM OR YOU. THERE IS ALSO A CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS CANADA!:

About the Program

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 50,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country.



The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.



“Americans will replace an estimated 130 million cell phones this year,” says Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular, “with the majority of phones either discarded or stuffed in a drawer. Most people don’t realize that the small sacrifice of donating their unwanted phones can have a tremendous benefit for a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers.”



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 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.



“Cell Phones for Soldiers started as a small way to show our family’s appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces,” says the teens’ father, Bob Bergquist. “Over the past few years, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue to grow as more troops are sent overseas for longer assignments.”



Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.

http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/donatephone.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPdHyeTIcPA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rasZI47sV0

NOTE: MAKE SURE ALL INFORMATION/ADDRESSES ARE DEPROGRAMMED FROM CELL PHONES BEFORE RELEASING FOR DONATION

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ultlushamed,

Good post, will do.
Chow

looking into it too. weve got 5 old ones in this house

great idea ult!

Thanks, Chow...

I was really sad to see this post get 'crowded out'--you see why.

My likely future son-in-law, is on the lines at Iraq, as we speak...so FREELY I may add, thanks to guys and ladies like him.

Our daughter just mailed a nice package for him full of PLENTY of goodies to share with the group in his truck. They haven't bathed, etc., in well over a month.

We love these kids. LOVE 'EM! Can't wait for them to come HOME, SAFE!

This 'reformed' Born-Again-Christian Mama told her daughter recently, "when he comes back, and when you get married....you make sure you HAVE AS MUCH SEX AS YOU CAN, EVERY DAY! YES, HONEY, IT REALLY IS THAT IMPORTANT!"

She said, "Ewww, Mommy"--but I know she's thrilled I'm not the 'uptight prude' I was.

Anyway,

PLEASE TAKE HEED TO THIS THREAD, EVERYONE!!!

Our MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE NEED US TO BACK 'EM!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ultlushamed,

I went to the site. They do not say anything about phone chargers. Tricity hook-up probably different over there. I could not find a single old phone (grandkids gottem, I guess)
, but I have a butch of chargers.
NAVY 10 Wake UP Forest 0 5:40 1ST Quarter
HAHA,
Chow

Go NAVY!!! WooHoo!

That's alright about the chargers, Chow. I'm sending mine anyway. Can't bear to just throw them away ('Packrat Syndrome', I suppose). They have pre-paid envelopes to use. I happened to receive one in a packet of 'junk mail'. It doesn't hold as much phones as I have laying around so I'm going to tape the the plastic envelope securely to a larger BOX. Then tuck a check in to offset the cost of the 'free' postage so more $$$ go to the SOLDIERS!

Just a thought...right Nigel?

Let's help Ultra keep this thread on top. If you don't have anything to say, just type "Bump" and hit enter.
NAVY 13 Wake UP Forest ZIP
Chow

I've set up as 'featured' so that any newby will see it first in General Discussion... good luck don't think I can send my old mobile from Scotland, but perhaps there is a similar initiative on this side of the pond. I'll do some research and if there is post that info up too!

Ult got a sticky! congratulations!

i dunno, good idea on using the envelope to send a boxfull. although i think i doubt id think to slip in the check. well thought out tho!

especially since we give to so many charities as it is. a lot out there and a lot in need! especially these days.

best
N.

Since all I got is chargers, how much would a new phone cost? I am sending check, but if we knew what a new one would be, I could maybe pay for two. Just hate to send money for 1 1/2. (I am already reading your mind, "Chow, whatever you send will be fine.") Not, I am not into make me feel goodC presents. I am into making the receiver feel good. Honestly, I am mailing a check Monday, I am sending it to make me feel good. I am treating this as the best present I have given anyone and damn proud of it. Thank-you very much,
Chow

Chow--

In the first link at the beginning of this thread, near the very bottom-- they DO take chargers!!!!

From the site itself:

Donate a Phone

We are now accepting all make, model and condition of cell phones, chargers, batteries, accessories, Blackberry PDA's and pagers!



Yee-Haw!

I know how you love that, baby!

Hope you are accepting all makes and models of checks. Mine got lab pups on it.
Can all the non members open your thread to the site? I cannnot remember when i used to lurk.
Might be good to post the addresses if they cannot open them.
Yeah, I like it! I like it alot!
You bad,
You so bad, you good,
Chow

quote:

I've set up as 'featured' so that any newby will see it first in General Discussion... good luck don't think I can send my old mobile from Scotland, but perhaps there is a similar initiative on this side of the pond. I'll do some research and if there is post that info up too!

GG--I was HUMBLED at your doing this...THANK YOU, and EVERYONE--(& Chow, Nigel)-- for reaching out to our men and women at war, and abroad.

BTW: I also found a link at the CPFS website that allows you to request cards for SPECIFIC person(s), pending approval, of course.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ultlushamed,

It is the least I could do. In UK we don't have a system whereby you can give pass your old cell phone on like that. What we do have is http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/ money donated to this charity is used to help our service men and women and I would ask all the F & E family this side of the pond to make a donation - no matter how small.
GG

DOOO YOOOU WAAAANT TOOO PLAAAY A GAAAME?
No, Not Thermal Nuclear War. This not a challenge to anyone (just me) and I am certaining not making fun by any means of this good cause.
I could not figure out how much to send. I am off work until January 5, 2009. That day I will send a check. For every quickie up to dinner and a movie I am sending $5.00. If I luck up and get all the way. Double, $10.00. Last night was a double. One quickie and one all the way is $15.00. I am going to do my best to raise at least $50. Both of us being off work, we tend to be a little more frisky.
You may want to try something different.
1. Everytime you say a cuss word in front of your kids, chichang.
2. If you are over weight, every time you eat too much, chichang.
3. Everytime you tell your wife or girlfriend you love her and she tells you she loves you.
(Works both ways, husband or boyfriend)
Chichang This is one of those once a day deals hopefully. If this one does not come through, you may be in trouble.
Just examples, but I like my idea better.
Can you hear me NOW?
Chow