Four years ago, two Massachusetts kids heard a story about an American soldier stationed overseas who’d spent $8,000 USD on cell phone calls home. The kids raided their piggy banks and went on a fundraising spree until they were able to pay off the soldier’s bill.
“Cell Phones for Soldiers” was born.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by siblings Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, ages 13 and 12, respectively. The Norwell, Massachusetts based organisation was formed with only one goal in mind - to help soldiers stationed overseas call home. The campaign began when the kids heard a local news report detailing the plight of a local soldier who’d been hit with an enormous cell phone bill. The Bergquists jumped into action right away. Robbing their piggy banks and getting donations from friends at school netted the new cause $21. When the campaigners went to the bank to open an account, they were surprised with a $500 donation.
Brittany and Robbie have continued to raise funds to buy prepaid phone cards through donations and profits gained from a drive promoting the recycling of old cell phones.
“They drop off their old phones and we then take it to a recycling company that gives us 5 dollars and then we buy calling cards for the troops,” said Cell Phones for Soldiers Brittany Bergquist.
To date, Cell Phones for Soldiers have distributed approximately 450,000 phone cards to troops in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. The total cost comes in at over $2 million.
www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
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