Behind the Badge
The Fullerton Police Department is a designated drop-off location for people who want to donate cell phones for soldiers.
The police department is working with the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers and there will be more than 3,400 drop-off locations throughout the country.
Last year, the department collected about 150 phones that were donated to the soldiers. This year, Fullerton Police Department Sgt. Kathryn Hamel hopes to surpass that number.
“We are counting on the generosity of our community to help these men and women who have served our country by providing them with a way to keep in touch with family, friends and loved ones,” Hamel said.
Cell phones are collected throughout the year and can be dropped off at the Fullerton Police Department .
Cell Phones For Soldiers was founded in 2004 by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the age of 12 and 13. The 10-year-old nonprofit has since provided more than 210 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and women stationed all around the world through its calling card program, Minutes That Matter.
In addition, Cell Phones for Soldiers has assisted more than 2,500 veterans with emergency funds through its veterans program, Helping Heroes Home. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to fund the mission.
“Each year we have been humbled by the amount of people and organizations like the Fullerton Police Department that take the initiative to support our military members,” said co-founder Robbie Bergquist. “It’s important to recognize the service and sacrifices of our active-duty military members and veterans. We hope our programs are able to provide a little comfort to those who have given so much for us all.”
