Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group in Bedford is collecting gently-used cell phones to be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. Through Cell Phones for Soldiers, phones and minutes are donated to troops serving overseas, helping them stay in touch with loved ones. Phones can be dropped off at the Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group office located on Bridge Street in Bedford.

Here is the press release from Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group.

Bedford, Va. October 10, 2012 – Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group and non-profit Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. are asking Bedford residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones. With ongoing deployments to combat areas and elsewhere, as many as 369,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military overseas. By donating gently-used cellular phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers, Bedford residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.

Beginning today, residents can donate their phones to the cause at the Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group office, located in the Witt-Fogleman Keller Williams Office at 203 North Bridge St., Bedford, VA 24523.

“When it comes right down to it, protecting our homes is the reason our troops make the extraordinary sacrifices that they do,” said Janie Arrington, mortgage banker at the Atlantic Bay office in Bedford. “Helping them stay connected to their families while they’re so far away from home is the least we can do.”

Siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist founded Cell Phones for Soldiers at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time to service men and women stationed around the world. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase pre-paid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 12,000 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

“Each year we have been humbled by the amount of people and organizations like Atlantic Bay that take the initiative to support our troops,” said co-founder Brittany Bergquist. “We have also watched the communication gap between our armed forces and their loved ones continue to grow as more troops are deployed for their third or fourth tour overseas.”

Donated phones are sent to Michigan-based ReCellular for recycling. For every donated phone valued at just $5, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to deployed troops.

ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS INC.
Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. (CPFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military. Based in Norwell, Mass., CPFS was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. From the recycling of used mobile phones and cash donations, the organization has raised more than $7 million, collected more than 8.3 million cell phones and provided troops overseas with more than 114 million minutes of free talk time. For more information www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers.