Donating Unused Cell Phones
By Terri Hughes-Lazzell | January 16, 2012 at 8:49 am
Unsure what to do with that old cell phone? Even if you think it’s obsolete after getting the new iPhone for Christmas, there are people who can still use your old phone, and who would appreciate it.
Donating cell phones to charity can be as simple as dropping them off at the store of your cell phone provider, dropping them directly to charities or sending them free through a variety of agencies.
Cellphonebank.org calls for donations to provide emergency communication to people in need by locating local drop-off locations or printing a prepaid mailing label and sending the phones via the U.S. Postage Service.
The donated cell phones could go to a variety of charities, including Cell Phones for Soldiers. This not-for-profit organization recycles the phones to provide troops with increased amounts of talk time. The donated cell phones are sold to a company that recycles them and the money received from those recycled cell phones is used to purchase calling cards that are sent to troops.
AT&T subscribers, as well as other consumers, can take their phones back to the store and donate them to Cell Phones for Soldiers by simply turning them in there. Cell Phones for Soldiers has already raised more than $1 million and distributed more than 75,000 prepaid phone cards to soldiers overseas, according to AT&T.
Verizon customers, and others, can donate their old cell phones to HopeLine® for use by victims of domestic violence. Cell phones and accessories from any service provider can be donated to the cause that gives victims of domestic violence a way to call emergency support services or others for help. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and sold for reuse with proceeds going to the program. In addition, refurbished phones with 3,000 minutes of wireless service are provided to domestic violence organizations or other agencies for domestic abuse clients. Phone donations are used to benefit victims of domestic abuse in the area in which they are donated.
Goodwill takes in unwanted cell phones, selling them for money to support its efforts. In addition, those who want to donate cell phones can contact local charities. Several take the phones in to sell them to assist their fundraising efforts.
How do you recycle your old cell phones?
