What to do with those old cellphones? Donate them to battered women shelters.

Recently, when I was cleaning out my basement closets, I came across three old cell-phones.  I haven't used these phones in years.  Once the brief walk down memory lane was over, I found myself wondering what to do with the phones.  As noted in prior posts, it is not a sound environmental practice to simply throw these phones away.  So I considered recycling them.  But as I thought more and more, I wondered if there was any way in which these old phones could be put to good use.  So I pulled up the ever-so-trusty Google search page and away I went.

I was surprised by what I found.  The most consistent advice that came of my google search was to donate these old phones to battered women shelters.  It is difficult to ever understand the experiences that these women go through.  Often, in their efforts to get away from the abuser, they are forced to leave with little notice and with little in the way of resources.  Donating your old cellphones to shelters is just one of the many ways in which you can help these women rebuild their lives.

EHow.com explains:

"Landfills in the United States accumulate 65,000 tons of cell phones each year. Such waste pollutes waterways and soil, and the incineration of cell phones creates air pollution. Companies and organizations have begun offering solutions to this problem that help people in need at the same time. Women's shelters across the country accept cell phone donations, with accompanying batteries and chargers, for their victims to make 911 calls in emergency situations. Such calls can be made on any cell phone, regardless of whether service is activated.

Preparation

1. It is important to delete all your personal information if you're planning to donate your cell phone. This includes stored phone numbers, call history and text messages. Make sure that the service is disconnected to avoid any fees. Also be sure that the phone works and that the battery stays charged. A working charger must accompany the cell phone donation. If the phone doesn't work or you don't have the charger, you should recycle the phone.

Where to Donate

2. Shelters for battered women are not easy to find because the victims need to be protected from their abusers. Some shelters list donation information online, but they are not likely to list any direct contact information. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers a nationwide mailing service for donated cell phones; they will even provide a shipping label for a box or padded envelope so you won't have to pay for postage (see Resources section). In addition, the NCADV offers a tax-deduction receipt. If you're purchasing a new cell phone, ask if your service provider takes donations for shelters. Some provide this service locally by partnering with a specific shelter. In such cases, a representative from the shelter picks up the donated phones."