Jim Sigel Automotive in Grants Pass Has Partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers to Provide Troops with Free Calls Home

Grants Pass, OR, November 03, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Jim Sigel Automotive and non-profit Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. are asking Grants Pass and Josephine County residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones. Although the military landscape is ever changing, as many as 369,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military overseas around the world. By donating to Cell Phones for Soldiers, local residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.

Beginning today, residents can donate their phones at Jim Sigel Automotive, 1601 N.E. 7th Street in Grants Pass. The phone collection drive is expected to run all month, the last day being Friday, November 30th.

“The holidays are a special time for families all across this country,” said Jim Sigel Automotive owner Jim Sigel. “Our hope is that this cell phone collection drive is going to make the holiday season a little more joyous for many military families.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 150 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.

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

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.

Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials, including:

Gold, silver and platinum from circuit boards
Copper wiring from phone chargers
Nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs
Plastic from phone cases and accessories

For more information, please visit www.jimsiegl.com or www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

About Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc.
Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active duty military members and veterans. Based in Norwell, Mass., Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. The organization has provided more than 150 million minutes of free talk time to deployed military members. Beginning in 2012, “Helping Heroes Home” will provide emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, www.helpingheroeshome.org or http://www.facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers.

About Jim Sigel Automotive: Jim Sigel Automotive is proud to be a part of the Grants Pass community. Since 1968, Jim Sigel Automotive has happily participated in several community events and is pleased to be partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers for this great cause.