Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,I,C-Gowanda) today encouraged local residents to participate in the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program and help military men and women stationed overseas reconnect with their families and friends back home. The “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program collects unused cell phones and accessories and turns them into prepaid calling cards that are donated to military personnel serving abroad.

“The ‘Cell Phones for Soldiers’ program is a great opportunity for community residents to give back to the brave men and women who are serving our country overseas,” said Giglio. “I encourage every resident to donate any unused cell phone to the program and help our military men and women reconnect with their families back home.”

Teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist of Norwell, Massachusetts founded the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program with $21 of their own money. Now registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the program has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. The organization hopes to turn unused cell phones into more than 12 million minutes in prepaid calling cards for troops serving overseas. The unused phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays “Cell Phones for Soldiers” for each donation, enough to pay for an hour of talk time for soldiers.

Residents interested in donating their unused cell phones can do so by visiting Assemblyman Giglio’s district office at 700 West State Street in Olean. Individuals can find out more information by contacting Assemblyman Giglio directly at (716) 373-7103 or visiting the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” Web site.