Local company partners with nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers

Murphy, October 7, 2015 – No Contract Cellular and nonprofit Cell Phones For Soldiers are asking Cherokee County and surrounding residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones. Although the military landscape is ever changing, as many as 200,000 troops are serving in the United States military overseas around the world. By donating to Cell Phones For Soldiers, Cherokee County and surrounding residents can provide a lifeline for America’s bravest.

Beginning today, residents can donate their phones and/or tablets at No Contract Cellular, 1474 Andrews Rd, Murphy, NC  28906 – Inside Circuit World at Big Lots Shopping Center.

Comments from owner of No Contract Cellular:
"No Contract Cellular is proud to help sponsor and support our Veterans.  I personally have met with the founder of Cell Phone For Soldiers, and as a combat Veteran I know what it costs military personnel to be able to call their family when serving outside the U.S.  This is a great non-profit organization with a tremendous program.  I had the pleasure of being personally involved in connecting 150 troops serving in Afghanistan with Cell Phones for Soldiers in which only about 20% of them could afford to call home.  Through this program, each soldier is now being provided a way to connect with their family simply by folks like you who have donated their old phones or donated money. This is a simple way for you to show your gratitude, and support for those who are serving our country, and have served this country.  We ask that you search your home for any phones you may not be using or need, and donate to this great cause.  If you do not have any phones, but want to contribute we will be taking up donations that 100% will be given to buy airtime for soldiers serving our country, and Veterans in need that kept our nation free." 

Cell Phones For Soldiers was founded in 2004 by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 213 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and women stationed around the world through its calling card program, Minutes That Matter. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones For Soldiers distributes 3,000 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

“Each year we have been humbled by the amount of people and organizations like No Contract Cellular that take the initiative to support our military members,” said co-founder Robbie Bergquist. “The communication gap between those serving and their families is a crucial need that Cell Phones For Soldiers is committed to addressing for years to come.”

For every donated phone valued at $5, Cell Phones For Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to deployed troops.

Since 2004, more than 11.6 million phones have been recycled or repurposed. Approximately half of the phones processed are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials, including: 

Gold, silver and platinum from circuit boards
Copper wiring from phone chargers
Nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs 

For more information, please visit www.nccmurphy.com or www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. 

ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS INC.
Cell Phones For Soldiers Inc. is a national nonprofit dedicated to serving troops and veterans with free communication services and emergency funding. Founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, Cell Phones For Soldiers has provided more than 213 million “Minutes That Matter” to servicemen and women. Since 2012, “Helping Heroes Home” has provided emergency funds for more than 2,700 veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest pages.  

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