ALACHUA COUNTY — The Alachua County Tax Collector’s office continues to collect donations of used cell phones that will be recycled by the non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers. Funds generated from the recycling will be used to purchase telephone calling cards and video phone calls for soldiers stationed in the Middle East. The Tax Collector’s office has so far collected 800 phones, and they have set a goal of 1000 phones collected by the 4th of July.
Cell phones can be donated at three locations of the Tax Collector’s Office: downtown at the Alachua County Administration Building at 12 SE 1st Street, the Northwest Office at 5801 NW 34th Street, and the Southwest Office at 3946 SW Archer Road next to Old Navy.
Any make or model of cell phones, accessories, chargers, batteries, Blackberry PDA’s and pagers may be donated at any of these locations during normal business hours.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization that was started by two Norwell Massachusetts teenagers to help buy pre-paid calling cards to send to U.S. Armed Forces people serving overseas. Started in April of 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers has raised more than $800,000 and has sent more than 75,000 pre-paid calling cards to U.S. service people.
In addition to calling cards, Cell Phones for Soldiers is now sending video phones to units in the Middle East, and to their home bases as well, so families are able to see each other as they talk. The phone and service are provided free to service people and their families.
For more information, citizens can call (352) 337-6228 or (352) 264-6935 or visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.