Donate Your Old Cell Phone for a Cause #BetterMatters

Say it Rah-shay By Apr 30, 2016 7 Comments

A few days ago my sister sent out a call requesting assistance for one of her residents. The woman left an abusive relationship after being locked in her house for two months. The woman escaped and moved into a shelter where after she stayed for three months.  The woman has found a job and a permanent home but she needs everything. She needs furniture, appliances, everything.

As I gathered some bits and pieces around my house to see if they could be donated, I realized that among the clutter, there are so any unused electronics around the home. I’ve been saving them for just in case reasons but learning about this woman’s plichght, I realized that these electronics would do better donated instead of gathering dust on a shelf in my home.

HopeLine® from Verizon Wireless is one such place I can donate my old phone. HopeLine helps support victims and survivors of domestic violence while ensuring that phones are reused in an environmentally responsible way. Anyone can donate no-longer-used phones (from any provider), batteries and accessories to HopeLine; Verizon then uses the proceeds from these donations to provide cash grants to domestic violence organizations across the United States.

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HopeLine supports programs available to victims (those still in contact with their batterer) and survivors (those who have left their batterer and are now in a safe space).

Cell phones into cash grants

HopeLine funds support many different domestic violence programs. Verizon Wireless gives cash grants to local domestic violence organizations and technology programs that educate organizations and victims on the importance of using technology wisely and safely.

“One of our key partners that we fund through HopeLine, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, provides 24-hour support to anyone affected by domestic violence, including victims, their friends and their family,” says Cameka Crawford, manager of community relations and multicultural communications at Verizon Wireless. “And customers can quickly and confidentially get access to these services by dialing #HOPE (#4673) from any phone on the Verizon Wireless network.”

A lifeline for victims

Verizon Wireless provides phones with 3,000 minutes to domestic violence organizations, which then pass the phones out to victims or survivors in need. A HopeLine phone gives victims a lifeline to the outside world and their family members—beyond the control of the abuser. For those who have escaped their abusive situation, a HopeLine phone keeps them connected to their families, to law enforcement, to their employers, to medical care and to their children’s schools.

How you can help

Since HopeLine became a national recycling program in 2001, it has collected more than 9 million phones, granted more than $14.2 million in cash to organizations across the country and provided more than 123,000 phones for use by domestic violence victims. But there’s still work to be done.

So, dig up your old phones, batteries and accessories, and donate them to HopeLine today. It’s fast and easy. Here are two options:

  • Print a postage-paid label online and adhere it to your shipping box. Be sure to review shipping instructions carefully and include a return address on the label before you mail it.
  • Use the HopeLine app to locate the nearest Verizon Wireless store and drop off your phone.

Inspired to gather more than just your own phone? Host a HopeLine Phone Drive. Verizon Wireless provides tips, suggestions and the materials to help promote your drive.

My sister’s resident is off to a good start, the donations are coming in and she is literally in a much better place. It feels good to know this and to know that I can help someone and being a part of something bigger than myself.

Check out HelpLine and see how you can help.

r’s note: This post is sponsored by Verizon Fios as part of the #FIOSPhilly Campaign. 

Author

I am mom, daughter, sister, yarn lover, word lover, crazy cat lady and library chick. Find me with book or with hook and a hot cuppa.

7 Comments

  1. I have a couple old cell phones I need to donate. I keep postponing because i want to wipe them of the data before i send them off. Got to remember to do that! Great organization!

  2. irishred13 says:

    We have a few cell phones we can recycle. I love this and that it helps victims of domestic violence.

  3. monicastable says:

    What a great program! I have a collection of old phones and had no idea what to do with them. I’ll be contacting HopeLine and my local shelter to see if they can use my old printers, etc. Thanks so much!!!!

  4. Jamie Lee says:

    I have a few old cell phones laying around and I’ve been wondering what to do with them. This seems like the perfect thing! Thanks for sharing this, I’d love to be able to help someone in need.

  5. What a great idea. I will have to see if they have something like this in Canada…I have a couple of phones I could donate.

  6. carissagarabedian says:

    I love the cause and how easy it will be for us to help , thinking about a woman suffering in a domestic violence relationship and how this can make such a difference in a life, is a great feeling. Thank you for sharing

  7. My husband has a bunch of old cell phones that he could donate. I love the idea that this program supports women and helps make a difference in the lives of others.

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