AUGUSTA – The Maine Elks Association MCCP Private Sector Committee is collecting used cell phones for the purpose of raising money for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

The program, “Phones to Fight Kids Cancer,” is being implemented statewide by Elks lodges. For each phone they receive, the association will receive a monetary donation, which will be given to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

According to a new study by environmental research group Inform, people in the United States will soon be getting rid of about 130 million cell phones each year. While cell phones contain toxic materials such as arsenic, lead and zinc, which pollute landfills, phones donated through the fund-raising program are given new life by being rebuilt and sold to developing nations. The phones that cannot be reused are recycled for their component parts according to EPA standards.

“We’re very excited about this program,” said Bob Godin, committee chairman, “We just recently started this fund-raiser locally and anticipate expanding this program throughout the state before the end of the summer. This cell phone recycling program not only benefits the children at Maine Children’s Cancer Program but also assists in preserving the environment and bringing communications to people who could not otherwise afford it.”

Used cell phones can be dropped off at any Elks Lodge or can be mailed directly to Bob Godin, P.O. Box 652, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Godin can be reached at [email protected] or 399-0092.