Wireless Phone Recycling Effort Organized by Plymouth County DA’s Office and Local Law Enforcement Agencies Supports Survivors of Domestic Violence

Media Contact Info

Wendy Bulawa for Verizon Wireless
617-851-3426

Bridget Norton Middleton for PCDA
508-584-8120 x2544

02/21/2006

WOBURN, MA — Verizon Wireless today received an infusion of more than 1,200 phones and accessories to its HopeLine® wireless phone recycling program through a collection in Plymouth County to support domestic violence survivors.

The county-wide recycling drive, which was organized by District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’s office, began during Domestic Violence Awareness month in October and continued through January. Boxes were placed at police departments throughout the County, as well as District Attorney’s offices located in Plymouth, Brockton, Hingham and Wareham. More than 25 police departments became home to collection boxes including Abington, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham and Whitman, MA. Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton was also a HopeLine collection location.

“The response to this cell phone drive was amazing,” said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz. “More than thirty agencies throughout Plymouth County worked towards making this drive a success. Now thanks to their hard work and the tremendous response from the public the thousands of phones delivered to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine recycling program will go to help the survivors of domestic violence.”

Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones regardless of make, model or carrier. Collected phones are either refurbished or recycled. The funds raised from the sale of refurbished phones are used to purchase wireless phones with prepaid airtime for survivors of domestic violence. An added benefit is that no-longer-used phones and batteries are recycled in an environmentally friendly fashion.

In addition to phones with service, Verizon Wireless New England also makes available $1,000 HopeLine grants, wireless voicemail service and free, in-person workshops called Invest In Yourself-- conducted by trained Human Resource professionals who give survivors of domestic violence practical information, tips and basic training towards financial independence during the life transition process. More information about the HopeLine program can be found at: www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit survivors of domestic violence, non-profit domestic violence agencies, law enforcement organizations and court advocacies. Since the national recycling program began in October, 2001, HopeLine has collected nearly 2.5 million phones, distributed more than $8 million in financial grants, and donated more than 20,000 phones with airtime and other services for survivors of domestic violence. In 2005 alone, the company’s New England region was able to donate more than $225,000 in wireless phones, airtime, and cash grants to qualified organizations as a result of the program.

“The number of phones collected in Plymouth County is just staggering,” said Bob Stott, president of Verizon Wireless New England. “Our goal is to raise awareness of the HopeLine program to insure that no-longer-used phones reach those in need instead of falling into storage or our landfills. Plymouth County residents did an amazing job.”

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