AAA Self Storage Collecting Cell Phones for Soldiers

Woodland, California self storage company AAA Self Storage has begun collecting cell phones to send to troops overseas, as part of Cell Phones for Soldiers. The nonprofit organization started by two Massachusetts teens turns recycled cell phones into minutes that can be added to prepaid calling cards used by U.S. troops overseas.

Cell phones can be dropped off at 226 Dr Claassen Way in Woodland, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Every phone that is donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers gets sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for the phones. ReCellular pays Cell Phones for Soldiers enough to pay for an hour of prepaid talk time for a soldier serving overseas. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect enough cell phones this year to pay for 12 million minutes to put onto prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops. To accomplish that goal, the organization will have to collect an average of 50,000 old cell phones every month. It has a nationwide network of more than 3,000 collection drop-off points.

“Americans will replace an estimated 130 million cell phones this year,” says Mike Newman, ReCellular’s vice president, at the Cell Phones for Soldiers website, “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.”

Massachusetts teens Robbie and Brittany Bergquist started Cell Phones for Soldiers with $21. Since then, the nonprofit organization has raised nearly $2 million in donated cell phones and cash donations. It has sent more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to U.S. soldiers.

Sources used:

AAA Self Storage.

“AAA Self Storage of Woodland, Calif., collects cell phones for soldiers.” Inside Self-Storage. Sept. 9, 2010.

Cell Phones for Soldiers.

“Mobile phones wanted for troops.” The Daily Democrat. Sept. 4, 2010.

ReCellular.