Cell phones for soldiers
Cell Phones For Soldiers is a charity based out of Norwell, Massachusetts. It was created by a pair of teenage siblings. 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie created this organization. The goal of this charity is to help soldiers serving overseas call home. The Berquists heard a news report AbOUT a local soldier who was charged a large fee in terms of his phone bill. These kids wanted to take action and help out these soldiers. The kids went about raising money by emptying their piggy bank money, getting snack money from their friends at school, and with the first $21.00, they went to the bank to open an account. As a result of the kids action a local bank in Hanover, Massachusetts, donated $500.00 to get them started.
The brother and sister are raising funds to buy calling cards, to provide as many soldiers as possible with prepaid calling cards for now. To raise these funds Cell Phones For Soldiers are collecting donations and old cell phones to recycle. The ultimate goal of Cell Phones For Soldiers is to provide banks of satellite phones, video phones and VOIP communications. With these donations and the profits from the recycled cell phones, they have distributed thousands of calling cards to soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
The duo have been featured on many newcasts including CNN's Young People Who Rock with Nicole Lapin and the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and FOXNEWS.com