Donate your Unwanted Cell Phone to Support our Troops


11/13/2018

MNB Bank and nonprofit Cell Phones For Soldiers are asking McCook area residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones. 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, local residents can provide a lifeline for America’s bravest.
 
During the month of November, donate your cell phones and/or tablets at the MNB Main Bank.
 
Cell Phones For Soldiers since provided more than 300 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 1,500 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.
 
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.
 
Since 2004, more than 15 million phones have been recycled or repurposed. Approximately half of the phones processed 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

  Commonly Asked Questions

Do you send the donated cell phones to troops?

No. It is a common misunderstanding that Cell Phones For Soldiers sends donated mobile devices directly to deployed troops. Doing so is not a viable option because, first and foremost, cell phones can be security hazards for military members in combat zones. Secondly, the cost of international phone calls using a cell phone is very high, making this option extremely cost prohibitive. Instead, we use the proceeds from the donated phones to send prepaid international calling cards to our troops to use via their approved phones.

Is there a way I can erase my personal data BEFORE the phone is donated?

Yes. If your cell phone has a SIM card, please remove it prior to donating. You also can search the internet for “factory reset” for the specific make and model of your phone to receive instructions on wiping away all personal information.

If you cannot factory reset your device do not worry. Our recycling partner is R2:2013 (Responsible Recycling) and NAID AAA certified (National Association for Information Destruction) and follows the Department of Defense standards for wiping hard drives and devices.

What do you do with the donated cell phones?

Mobile devices and tablets donated to Cell Phones For Soldiers are sold either to an electronic refurbisher or a recycler. Once we receive a donated device, it is quickly wiped of all personal information and checked to see if it is repairable. A cell phone that is repairable is sold to an electronics refurbisher who will repair the device and resell it in the aftermarket. However, devices that are either too old or completely broken are sold to recyclers who strip the devices of any salvageable components and/or rare metals and then responsibly recycle the remaining parts. The proceeds from this process are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards for troops and to provide emergency funding to veterans.

What types of cell phones and mobile devices do you want?

We accept donations of any and all types of cell phones, smartphones and tablets from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones. Chargers and accessories are welcome but are not necessary to donate. If you have a charger you would like to donate, please keep the original phone and charger together. Please do not send instruction manuals.

Learn more at https://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/