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 $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 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.”

For the past four years, the Bergquists have spent most holidays -- not to mention weekends and even vacations -- working for their charity. They collect used cell phones, sell them to recyclers, and then use the proceeds to purchase prepaid calling cards for soldiers stationed abroad.

AT&T is now offering all 1,800 company-owned wireless store locations across the country as drop-off sites to help recycle used cell phones for the program, through July 2008.

For further information about this program, go to: http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

To make a monetary donation, send to:
Cell Phones for Soldiers
South Shore Savings Bank
400 Washington Street
Norwell, MA 02061