LEWISTON — The Androscoggin County Democratic Committee and nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. are asking all Androscoggin County residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones.

As many as 290,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military overseas around the world. By donating to Cell Phones for Soldiers, Androscoggin County residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.

The Androscoggin County Democratic Committee will be available in person at their booth at this year’s Liberty Festival.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided 181 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and women stationed around the world. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase prepaid 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.

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

Approximately half of the phones Mindful eCycling processes are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials.

For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com or contact Heidi Brooks, Androscoggin County Democratic Committee secretary, at 782-2146.

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