Paradis Shop ‘n Save collects cell phones for soldiers

    HOULTON — Paradis Shop ‘n Save and non-profit Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. are asking Houlton and surrounding area residents to help troops call home by donating gently-used cellular phones.
    With ongoing deployments to combat areas and elsewhere, as many as 369,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military overseas. By donating gently-used cellular phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers, Houlton area residents can provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.
    Now through Nov. 11, residents can donate their phones to the cause at Paradis Shop ‘n Save in Houlton.
    Siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist founded Cell Phones for Soldiers at the ages of 12 and 13 respectively. The charity has since provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time to service men and women stationed around the world. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are used to purchase pre-paid 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 Paradis that take the initiative to support our troops,” said co-founder Brittany Bergquist. “We have also watched the communication gap between our armed forces and their loved ones continue to grow as more troops are deployed for their third or fourth tour overseas.”
    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.
    For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.