In honor of Military Appreciation Month, Pak Mail and nonprofit Cell Phones For Soldiers are asking local 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 and around the world. By donating to Cell Phones For Soldiers, local residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home. Beginning today through May 31, residents can donate their phones at any Pak Mail location across the country. Alex Zai, Pak Mail President and CEO, stressed the importance of Pak Mail’s continuing their support of the Cell Phones for Soldiers organization and its cellular phone donation and recycling program. “Pak Mail has been a longtime supporter of Cell Phones For Soldiers. All of our stores are registered as donation locations for gently-used cellular phones to help soldiers receive calling cards to phone family and friends while serving overseas,” Zai said. “We are excited to team up with Cell Phones For Soldiers for this month-long donation drive in May – in honor of Military Appreciation Month and our troops.” 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 companies like Pak Mail 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
About Cell Phones For Soldiers Inc. Cell Phones For Soldiers Inc. is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. Founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, Cell Phones For Soldiers has provided more than 204 million “Minutes That Matter” to deployed troops. Since 2012, “Helping Heroes Home” has provided emergency funds for more than 400 returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest pages. About Pak Mail For nearly 30 years, Pak Mail has been the world’s premier franchisor for packing, shipping, crating and business-support services for both commercial and residential customers. With more than 250 stores in the United States, Pak Mail is a one-stop source for domestic, international and freight shipping, including services for furniture, art and antiques. Pak Mail partners with FedEx, UPS, DHL, The U.S. Postal Service and other trusted freight carriers for worry-free delivery. Pak Mail finds the most cost-effective and safest ways to pack and ship items worldwide by air, ocean, or ground. For further information, please visit http://www.pakmail.com.