Used cell phones can help survivors

By Kate Westby | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, July 5, 2008

You know that old cell phone you’re no longer using, the one that’s sitting in the drawer or closet? It could potentially save the life of one of the more than 6,000 individuals who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse every day.

Someplace Safe in Fergus Falls is collecting cell phones, batteries and chargers through the Wireless Foundation’s CALL to PROTECT (CTP) ShelterHelp program.

Donations will become refurbished CTP phones that local shelters like Someplace Safe will receive as track phones and minutes to distribute to individuals and families in need.

The CTP program provides more than an environmentally friendly way to retire wireless phones. The nationwide event benefits any crime survivor who is in need of a phone when faced with an emergency situation, according to Lori Hanson, administrative assistant at Fergus Falls’ Someplace Safe.

“Anything we send in, we get credit for by receiving phones and minutes in return,” Hanson said. “Whether a person is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or even if it’s a general crime, we give them one of these track phones to use.”

The CTP program started before Hanson’s time at Someplace Safe, but the track phone system was introduced two years ago after the close of the previous program operated through Unicell.

More than 37,000 phones with matching airtime have been distributed across the country to domestic violence agencies, but Hanson noted that benefits from the phone donations directly return to the local community rather than being sent to a nationwide general fund.

So far in the Fergus Falls CTP program’s two-year existence, Hanson estimates nearly 400 phones have been collected and given to community members.

Hanson said there is no official end to the cell phone collection because Someplace Safe will always accept donations of cell phones.

“Donating a phone or battery will directly help a person who has been a victim of crime in their time of need,” Hanson said. “Anybody we serve will benefit if they are needing a phone, so the program really helps the community in general.”

Donations of cell phones, batteries or chargers can be brought to the Fergus Falls Someplace Safe offices between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 121 West Vasa Avenue, just west of the hospital, or to find the nearest drop-off location, call 1-800-974-3359.