Donate an Old Cell So a Soldier Can Phone Home

NORWELL, Mass., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Cell Phones for Soldiers wants to provide free calling cards to all U.S. troops serving overseas this holiday season. To help realize that goal, the organization is launching a new online community that connects individual Americans with members of our Armed Forces. At http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/, families and friends of military members can post images and stories of troops stationed abroad. Americans can search the database, and give the service member of their choice an hour of time to call home with just the click of a mouse.

"We hope the faces and stories of the men and women serving our country will inspire many Americans to support our troops this holiday season -- and beyond," says Brittany Bergquist, Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder. "By making a small sacrifice, each of us can provide a soldier with a much-needed connection to their loved ones during the holiday season when just hearing their voice -- and knowing they are safe for another day -- can be an invaluable gift."

Military families and friends can post information about their loved ones serving abroad, as well as a brief description of what it means for them to call home for the holidays, at http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/.

Visitors can search the database of troops by name, home state, military branch, or theater of deployment to find a service member they would like to call home. Visitors can make a financial contribution, or download a prepaid mailing label to donate their old cell phones -- with the average phone worth enough to provide a one hour, international calling card. Service members will receive an e-mail when they are selected, with the calling card arriving via U.S. Postal Service in one to two weeks.

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 501(c)3 non-profit organization has raised millions of dollars in donations and distributed more than 120 million minutes of prepaid card time to troops serving overseas.

The Bergquists' efforts have been recognized by the Microsoft Above and Beyond Youth Leadership Award, the National Caring Award, the National conference on Citizenship Youth Leader Award, and the New England Innovation Awards "Patriot Award."

About Cell Phones for Soldiers:
Cell Phones for Soldiers was created by Brittany & Robbie Bergquist of Norwell MA. After reading a story about a soldier who ran up a huge phone bill calling home from Iraq, these two teenagers decided to help out. They started by opening an account with $21.00 of their own money. They are collecting cash donations and old cell phones. The cell phones are recycled for cash and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for our troops serving abroad. Cell Phones for Soldiers is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their efforts have motivated people and businesses around the country to donate to this worthy cause. Their goal is to provide every U.S. servicemember with a way to call home for free. For more information, please visit http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/