In the summer we spend most of our time outside or camping or just somewhere soaking up the warm temperatures and the sunshine. The winter is the time I devote to cleaning and organizing the inside of the house. Last week, I started organizing our basement with the idea of turning a portion of the finished part in to a playroom for our daughters. On our desk, I found three old cell phones.
My husband and I both have Verizon service so the second our New Every Two rolls around we are drooling over the next best thing and ready to upgrade. There isn’t anything wrong with our old phones (usually) and they just sit around collecting dust or become a play thing for our kids (though remember to remove the battery because the phone, while not activated, can still dial 911. I speak from experience!) .
So what can I do with all of my old phones?
Well, we can save them for years and, in a few years, make fun of ourselves for having such old, clunky phones. We could coordinate all the ringers to play a nice little song. We could use them as night-lights.
While these are all viable suggestions, I actually recently learned of a better one. HopeLine.
Through their long running-running program, Verizon Wireless collects these no-long-used phones and cell phone equipment to be refurbished or recycled. The refurbished phones are sold and the funds are used to provide wireless phones and airtime to domestic violence survivors. The funds also go to support non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While there is only a week left in a month, I challenge you to find your old cell phone, follow the directions on the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program page and send in one of your phones–postage is free. I’ll send in mine. I want to see pictures of you shipping in your phone. Let’s see how many Detroit Mommies can help out! Send your photos to rlwyatt@gmail.com and I’ll post them to Detroit Mommies.
Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way. Through HopeLine’s recycling efforts, more than 200 tons of electronics waste and batteries have been kept out of landfills.
