Donate used cell phones for soldiers overseas

Friday, July 03, 2009 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend | With the help of the USO, AT&T is donating more than 30,000 prepaid phone cards with a retail value of more than $150,000 to military personnel stationed overseas.

The USO will distribute the first 20,000 prepaid cards of the year at overseas military bases and during USO entertainment tours in the weeks surrounding Independence Day. The donation is in honor of U.S. veterans around the world, whether they are on active duty or have a son, daughter, husband, wife or loved one who is actively serving.

Phone cards will go to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Germany. Cards will also go to wounded military members at Landsthul Regional Medical Center.

Each donated phone card will provide military members with 20 minutes of free talk time from Iraq to the U.S.

AT&T also donated 2,500 prepaid phone cards to be included in care packages being boxed up for soldiers overseas by fans.

Since last July, the charity has sent more than 350,000 free phone cards to the troops using proceeds from recycled cell phones.

You can help the effort by donating used cell phones and accessories at any AT&T company-owned store. Go to att.com/holidayconnect to download a free prepaid shipping label to mail in your phone or donate funds to the charity and you can get a free patriotic greeting card for your efforts.

If you want to start your own Cell Phones for Soldiers donation drive, a free toolkit —including a printable recycling bin— is available at www.att.com/recyclewireless.