Our trops need your old cell phones

By Rob Kealey
More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families.  In the spirit of giving back to the community, the 1st United Methodist Church of Mays Landing, has teamed up with CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS, www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, and is collecting old and unused cell phones which will then be redeemed for phone time for our soldiers.
 
CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS is a nationwide effort founded by teenagers Robbie & Brittany Berquist from Norwell, Mass with $21 of their own money.  As often is the case with good ideas, their generosity caught on and the 501c3 non-profit CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS was born. 
 
Old cell phones are sent to recycler ReCellular who pays for each donated phone.  To date, more than $2 million in donations have paid for 500,000 prepaid calling cards that were distributed to our troops.
 
CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS hopes to turn old cell phones (it doesn’t matter if they work) and charges into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards.  To reach this goal, CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS expects to collect 50,000 cell phones at 3,000 collection sites across the country.
 
Let’s help our troops stay connected with their families and friends.  Cell phones can be dropped off at the 1st United Methodist Church of Mays Landing, 6011 Main St.  Questions should be directed to Pastor Doug Rea, 609-625-9446, www.mayslandingmethodist.org or Rob Kealey 609-625-7265.