GMH connects servicemembers, families

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Capling
  • 325th Fighter Wing public affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The GMH military housing staff is providing a drop-off point for donated cell phones and accessories for the "Cell Phones for Soldiers drive" organization.

According to the charity's Web site, "Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2007. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expect to collect 15,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country."

The charity was started by then 12 and 13-year-old brother and sister Brittany and Robbie Bergquist of Norwell, Mass. in 2004 to help U.S. servicemembers call home while overseas without having to worry about large bills.

The program turns the donated phones and turns them over to a company that pays them for each one, and provides more than one hour of talk time for the servicemembers.

The GMH office is accepting donations at their office through Jan. 25 and is reinstating pick-up after Memorial Day.

"You can also bring in calling cards for donation," said Nakisha Hughley, GMH resident specialist and outreach coordinator. "We take the donations and ship them directly to the program. We're simply a collection site."

This is GMH's first year participating in the program.

"Every GMH office across the nation is using their leasing office as a drop-off point," Ms. Hughley said. "The whole point is to get servicemembers connected with their families during the holidays. This is just another way for us to say we appreciate you."

The drop-off box is available in the GMH office; building 747, during office hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

"This is a very admirable program where people aren't just looking for money," Ms. Hughley said. "Our troops are really benefiting from this. There's no better morale booster than being able to call home for the holidays."

For more information or to make a donation, call Ms. Hughley at 286-1700 or visit the Web site at http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com .