[Nfbf-l] cell phones for soldiers

[Sherri]

I read the following in "Dear Abby." Has anyone ever heard of this program? 
It sounds like a good idea to get behind.

Sherri

      OLD CELLPHONES TAKE ON NEW LIFE FOR SOLDIERS CALLING HOME
      DEAR ABBY: My son is a career soldier, Army Rangers Airborne, and yes, 
I am proud of him. During his 15 years of active duty he has been involved 
in every "action" around the world. The greatest gift I have been given 
started with an idea conceived by two high school students in Massachusetts. 
The program is called Cell Phones for Soldiers, and these are the basics:
      Old cellphones are donated and then sold to a recycler, and with that 
money phone cards are purchased and donated to soldiers all over the world. 
Eighty percent of calls home by active-duty soldiers are made using these 
cards.

      I have never heard of such a win-win program, and the biggest winner 
is the family member who answers the phone and hears, "Hi, Mom. I love you. 
I'm OK." -- DR. LISA MORGAN, A VERY THANKFUL MOM

      DEAR DR. MORGAN: Until I read your letter, I hadn't heard of the 
program, either. It seems very worthwhile, and something anyone who w ants 
to support members of our military might be interested in.

      Founded in 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) 
organization whose mission is to provide free communication tools for 
military serving overseas. There are more than 15,000 collection sites 
across the United States. Nearly 12,000 calling cards are mailed each week, 
and since 2004, more than 150 million minutes of talk time have been 
provided. Anyone interested in learning more should visit 
cellphonesforsoldiers.com.


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Sherri Brun
flmom2006 at gmail.com
Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world.
Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one 
is paying attention.
 NFBF Newsline® chair
www.nfbnewsline.org
E-mail:  newsline at nfbflorida.org
Vice-president National Federation of the Blind of Florida Greater Orlando 
Chapter
http://nfbfgoc.org
Chair Orange County Disability Advisory Board