TMCnet News

Kia of Puyallup in Puyallup, WA has Partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers to Provide Troops with Free Calls Home
[December 10, 2012]

Kia of Puyallup in Puyallup, WA has Partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers to Provide Troops with Free Calls Home


Puyallup, WA, Dec 10, 2012 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- Kia of Puyallup and non-profit Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. are asking Pierce County residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones. With ongoing deployments to combat areas and elsewhere, as many as 369,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military overseas. By donating gently-used cellular phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers, Pierce County residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.



Beginning today, residents can donate their phones to Kia of Puyallup's drop off location, located in their dealership showroom. The address for the dealership is: 111 Valley Ave NE, Puyallup, WA 98372 "Cell Phones for Soldiers is such a great way to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who have given so much for so many," said Ryan Sawyer, Vice President, Kia of Puyallup. "This is one small way for Kia of Puyallup customers and employees to say thank you and help our troops stay in touch with their loved ones while they are deployed." Siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist founded Cell Phones for Soldiers at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time to service men and women stationed around the world. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase pre-paid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 12,000 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 Kia of Puyallup that take the initiative to support our troops," said co-founder Brittany Bergquist. "We have also watched the communication gap between our armed forces and their loved ones continue to grow as more troops are deployed for their third or fourth tour overseas." Donated phones are sent to Michigan-based ReCellular for recycling. For every donated phone valued at just $5, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to deployed troops.


ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS INC.

Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. (CPFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military. Based in Norwell, Mass., CPFS was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. From the recycling of used mobile phones and cash donations, the organization has raised more than $7 million, collected more than 8.3 million cell phones and provided troops overseas with more than 114 million minutes of free talk time. For more information http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/12/prweb10216596.htm PRWeb.com

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]