 "Photo: Matt Turner")
The national service sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma has been collecting old cell phones to give to soldiers currently serving overseas.
The old cell phones are given to ReCellular, which pays the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization for each donated phone.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that was started in April 2004 by Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, a brother and sister who were 13 and 12 years old at the time.
According to Gabby Dunn, a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, the company turns the old cell phones into more minutes of prepaid calling cards for soldiers over in Iraq, so they can have more time to talk to their families.
From 2004 to the present day, the organization has collected almost $2 million in donations and has given more than 50,000 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,” said Bob Bergquist, father of the two young founders.
Over time, the organization hopes to provide more programs, such as providing video phones with prepaid service, so overseas soldiers can see their families more regularly.
“With over 200,000 U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is important for us to find ways for them to communicate with loved ones back home,” said Brittany Bergquist.
According to Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular, Americans will replace at least 130 million cell phones this year.“If just two percent of all Americans were to donate their phones, we could supply every troop with a phone as a small measure of the gratitude of a nation,” says Robbie Bergquist.
The following includes a few letters from soldiers expressing gratitude for the program:
“When I go around and visit the troops, I am always handing out free calling cards to them, and they are very thankful, and surprised! You and your organization play a large role in my staff’s ministry to the troops. Again thank you, we couldn't do this without you!”
Thank You
SSgt Matthew Teets
NCOIC, Theater Gateway Chapel
Ali Al Salem, Kuwait
“Today, I received the pre-paid calling cards from you. I handed out the cards myself, and they all disappeared in less than a minute! We would ALL like to thank you very much for the cards and the support you provide to those of us in the military. I am currently deployed to Iraq for a year (been here for a month), just got married in June, and it's so great to be able to call my wife.”
Thanks again for your support!
TSgt Jason
Coalition Air Force Training Team (CAFTT)
Hurriya Base/Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq
Gamma Sigma Sigma only collected two cell phones as of Thursday, the last day of their collection.
The Cell Phones for Soldiers Organization has over 40,000 cell phone donation centers throughout the U.S. where people can turn in their old cell phones.
For more information, or to donate a cell phone, visit the Cell Phones for Soldiers website at http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/index.html.
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