Oneida Times

New York State Senator Joseph Griffo and the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center have announced the results of their recent collection drive for Cell Phones For Soldiers. Approximately 600 gently-used mobile devices were collected over a month-long period, from November 4 to December 6, across Sen. Griffo's district. The area includes all of Oneida and Madison counties, as well as parts of Chenango and Herkimer counties.

The donated phones will provide about 90,000 minutes of free talk time to deployed troops through calling cards. "Once again, our compassionate and caring community stepped up and showed how much they appreciate the men and women serving in the military," said Sen. Griffo. This marks the ninth year of the initiative, with around 7,400 devices donated in total since its inception.

Vincent Scalise, executive director of the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center, expressed gratitude for the community's involvement: "I am never surprised by the generosity of this community and region." He emphasized that this effort supports both active troops during the holiday season and veterans in need.

Cell Phones For Soldiers was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist when they were teenagers. The charity has provided over 300 million minutes of free talk time globally through its Minutes That Matter program. Funds are raised from recycling cellular phones to purchase prepaid international calling cards.

In addition to supporting military communication needs, donating used mobile devices helps reduce electronic waste. The organization works with a recycling partner to dismantle devices securely, which aids in reducing environmental impact by preventing harmful materials from reaching landfills.

For more information on Cell Phones For Soldiers, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.