Donated cell phones to help abuse victims

JACKSON, Tenn. — Giving survivors of abuse a lifeline to safety, Verizon stores are asking for old cell phone donations.

The program is part of International Mobile Phone Recycling Day, Jan. 27. “Nationwide, we’ve collected probably over 11 million phones,” said Jeremiah Schneider, general manager for the Verizon store in north Jackson.

Schneider said the program has been part of the Verizon model for at least five years.

“We collect any phone even if it’s from a different carrier, whether it’s broken or not,” Schneider said.

Phones go into a designated Hope Line box inside the stores. The company then refurbishes them and donates them to victims of domestic abuse.

Locally, the donations will go to WRAP, the Wo/Men’s Resource and Rape Assistance Program. “Not everyone needs a new phone, but many of the people we serve do,” WRAP Executive Director Daryl Chansuthus said.

Chansuthus said in many cases, the cell phones are a first step for victims to reclaim their lives from abuse.

“Knowing that you have something that’s yours, your abuser knows anything about,” she said. “Your abuser cannot come and reach out to you via text message or repeated phone calls, cannot stalk you.”

Verizon staff say they are accepting phones, chargers, accessories and pagers.

Even if the recycled phones don’t have a plan right away, staff said they are all able to make emergency phone calls to 911. “If they contact 911 here in West Tennessee, police will contact WRAP if it’s a case of domestic violence,” Chansuthus said.