Cell Phones

Charlotte, NC - Tis’ the season and some domestic violence victims could use your old cell phones. Before throwing away the one you just replaced this Christmas, consider bringing it to the Mecklenburg County Women’s Commission. In an effort to help victims of domestic violence and raise money for domestic violence programs, the Women’s Commission is collecting used, unwanted cell phones.

The Women’s Commission is working with Shelter Alliance in this effort, tapping into an estimated 30 million idle phones sitting in drawers and closets nationwide. More than 200 organizations nationwide collect cell phones for fundraising purposes. The Women’s Commission program is different in that they try to give the phones to domestic violence victims through their own services, the Shelter for Battered Women, Victim Assistance, DSS’ Youth & Family Services or the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s domestic violence unit.

The phone provided to a domestic violence victim (or a potential victim) allows them to call 911 in the event of an emergency. A cell phone can be programmed to call 911, regardless of whether the user has purchased a service plan or not. The phone simply needs to be fully charged.

Any donated cell phone that cannot be used because previous user’s account information is still intact, the Women’s Commission gives to Shelter Alliance, which refurbishes and distributes the phones for use. Shelter Alliance gives a monetary contribution for these unusable cell phones. The money collected by the Women’s Commission is earmarked for a variety of safety items, which are then extended to domestic violence victims.

Phones can be dropped off at between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at:

• Mecklenburg County Women’s Commission
• Hal Marshall County Services Center
• 700 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
• For more information, call 704-432-1568.

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