Program gets phone cards to troops

News: Program gets phone cards to troops

Fort Dix Public Affairs Office

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Story by Ryan Morton Follow This Journalist

Ryan Morton

Bayville, N.J. resident, Nancy Seibel, speaks to Soldiers upon giving them phone cards during a deployment ceremony at Army Support Activity-Dix's Infantry Park, July 1. Seibel works with "Cell Phones for Soldiers," a national charitable organization that distributes calling cards to Soldiers serving overseas with money raised from recycled cell phones. Seibel runs the operation in the Bayville, Toms River, and surrounding areas.

FORT DIX, N.J. -- Troops serving abroad can phone home thanks to “Cell Phones for Soldiers,” a national organization that gives phone cards to military personnel.

The program, which was set up in 2004, encourages people to donate old cell phones for recycling and the money made goes towards the purchase of the phone cards that get sent to military personnel.

“It has been a great privilege for me to participate in this program, to honor and serve the military as a civilian. I have witnessed a great outpouring of patriotism to become involved as the donors of phones and it has been heartwarming to feel everyone’s desire to contribute to our troops in any way we possibly can,” said Bayville, N.J. resident and “Cell Phones for Soldiers” supporter, Nancy Seibert.

Among those receiving cards was the 94th Military Police Company, an Army Reserve organization from Londonderry, N.H. The Soldiers in the unit received them during their Yellow Banner ceremony at Army Support Activity-Dix’s Infantry Park, upon deploying to Iraq, July 1.

For Seibert, whose father is a retired Naval chief, supporting the group is her way of giving back to the men and women who help keep the U.S. safe. A few years ago, she was looking for a way to help the military and became involved with the organization in 2007. She set up 12 donation locations throughout the Bayville, Toms River, and surrounding areas where people can deposit their old cell phones. Seibert says it’s been a very rewarding venture.

“It’s been an unbelievable experience. Being able to give them the calling cards helps a little bit so they can talk with their families,” she said.

Over the last three years Seibert’s efforts have resulted in the collection of more than 4,800 phones for recycling, and the distribution of more than 8,000 calling cards, with more than 800,000 minutes from donations in her locations.

Nationally, “Cell Phones for Soldiers” has raised close to $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards since 2004 to servicemembers serving overseas.

For more information about this program, log onto www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.