Parts Express In Dayton, Ohio Has Partnered With Cell Phones For Soldiers To Provide Troops With Free Calls Home

Online, February 25, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Although the military landscape is ever changing, as many as 200,000 troops are serving in the United States military overseas around the world. By donating to Cell Phones For Soldiers, Dayton residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.

Beginning today, residents can donate their phones at:

Parts Express Showroom
725 Pleasant Valley Dr.
Springboro, OH 45066

Cell Phones For Soldiers was founded in 2004 by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 204 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and women stationed around the world through its calling card program, Minutes That Matter. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones For Soldiers distributes 7,500 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

"Each year we have been humbled by the amount of people and organizations like Parts Express that take the initiative to support our troops," said co-founder Brittany Bergquist. "The communication gap between those serving and their families is a crucial need that Cell Phones For Soldiers is committed to addressing for years to come."

Donated phones are sent to Mindful eCycling for recycling. For every donated phone valued at $5, Cell Phones For Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to deployed troops.

Approximately half of the phones Mindful eCycling processes are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly 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
• Plastic from phone cases and accessories

For more information, please visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS INC.
Cell Phones For Soldiers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. Based in Norwell, Mass., Cell Phones For Soldiers was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. The organization has provided more than 204 million minutes of free talk time to deployed military members through its calling card program, Minutes That Matter. Beginning in 2012, "Helping Heroes Home" provides emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, www.helpingheroeshome.org, http://www.facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers or @CPFSOfficial.