Don’t know what to do with that old cell phone?
How about helping a soldier serving overseas call home to his friends and families.
The Lake Orion American Legion Post 233 recently began participating in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program.
According to Butch Lanway, the Legion member heading up the project, in just one week, there’s already a box filled with around 30 old cell phones.
Lanway said he heard about the program on the news and thought it would be a good cause for the Legion to support.
‘It’s for the soldiers to call home to their families. If it’s for our service guys and girls, it’s all good,? he said.
So far, it’s been a group effort to get the ball rolling, Lanway was quick to point out. Many people have been generous already, and he hopes for more in the future.
All models, even really old phones are accepted, and chargers can be brought to the drop-off box located in the clubroom at the American Legion located in downtown Lake Orion at 164 S. Broadway.
A dollar or two donation for shipping costs are also welcome.
From there, the phones are sent to the national Cell Phones for Soldiers program. The program was started by two Massachusetts teenagers in 2004.
The organization collects the old phones and sells them to ReCellular, who recycles them.
Since its inception, the program has raised more than $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
This has accounted for more than 27 million minutes soldiers have been able to talk with loved ones.
For more information about the organization see www.cellphones forsoldiers.com.