Borough donates old cell phones to charity

PALMER— The Matanuska-Susitna Borough will begin donating the proceeds from the Borough's old cell phones to the Cell Phones for Soldiers charity, a nationwide cell phone recycling program that provides phone cards for soldiers.

Cell phones contain valuable parts that can be resold. Johnny Murdock, with Borough Emergency Services, was inspired by the efforts of Anchorage middle school student Anthony Gustin, who took the initiative to start a collection in Alaska through AT&T.

Cell Phones for Soldiers has been collecting phones in partnership with AT&T across the country. The goal nationally is to raise enough money to buy $1.4 million worth of phone cards.

For more information on Cell Phones for Soldiers go to www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

Old cell phones of employees are already surplused for parts. This effort would direct the recycling toward the charity for a limited time. Presently 74 phones are due for surplusing.

Additionally, employees are invited to bring in their personal, old cell phones for donations to the charity. The deadline is June 15. —End—