Elm Ridge Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 4600 W. Kilgore Ave., Muncie, is a local collection point for Cell Phones for Soldiers, a program which supports troops through the donation of unused cell phones. Local residents can support the collection drive by dropping off their unused cell phones in the lobby of Elm Ridge Funeral Home.

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 50,000 cell phones this year to help keep troops connected with their families. The cell phones are recycled by Cell Phones for Soldiers for cash in order to purchase pre-paid calling cards for soldiers so they can call home for free. With more than 150,000 troops serving overseas and away from their families, “We’re proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers, particularly at a time all of us are remembering the lives lost on 9/11 seven years ago and the sacrifices our troops make for us every day,” says Elm Ridge Owner David Shipper. “Cell Phones for Soldiers is a worthy cause which provides families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. “We are continuously overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support of thousands of Americans who have helped our troops speak with their loved ones,” says the teens’ father, Bob Bergquist. “However, the need for support keeps growing as more soldiers are sent to the Middle East or are asked to serve extended tours of duty.”

The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, including: Gold, silver and platinum from circuit boards; copper wiring from phone chargers; nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs; and plastic from phone cases and accessories

For more information about the collection drive for Cell Phones for Soldiers at Elm Ridge, call 765/288-5061 or visit www.elmridgefuneralhome.com.

-#-

About Cell Phones for Soldiers:
Cell Phones for Soldiers was created by Brittany & Robbie Bergquist of Norwell MA. After reading a story about a soldier who ran up a huge phone bill calling home from Iraq, these two teenagers decided to help out. They started by opening an account with $21.00 of their own money. They are collecting cash donations and old cell phones. The cell phones are recycled for cash and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for soldiers serving in the Middle East. Cell Phones For Soldiers is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their efforts have motivated people and businesses around the country to donate to this worthy cause. Their goal is to provide every US soldier with a way to call home for free. For more information, please visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com