Verizon phone donations up 23%

MUNCIE, Ind. (WANE) – Verizon Wireless announced Monday that Hoosiers donated 18,478 no-longer-used wireless phones to its HopeLine in 2011 to support and put resources into the hands of domestic violence survivors in Indiana.

Verizon Wireless said the number of phones reflects a 23 percent annual increase in donations from Hoosiers during a year when economic pressures and unemployment brought increasing numbers of families seeking aid to Indiana shelters.

“Hoosier donations are critical to the ongoing support of Indiana-based nonprofits that serve families in need,” said John Granby, president–Indiana /Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. “Ongoing donations can be made to local retail stores throughout the year and provide HopeLine with additional resources so that local nonprofits can continue to serve their communities. Survivors often rely on donated cell phones, so they can stay in touch with important contacts while they rebuild their lives.”

Last year in Indiana, Hoosier nonprofits received more than $200,000 in cash grants and shelters received phones with more than 2.7 million minutes of donated airtime for use by domestic violence survivors to maintain critical and daily connections with employers, doctors and schools.

According to the 2010 National Census of Domestic Violence Services, 82 percent of Indiana programs surveyed reported a higher demand for services while at the same time 76 percent of programs reported a decrease in funding.

HopeLine from Verizon puts its network to work in Indiana communities by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider. Verizon Wireless and the HopeLine program provide wireless phones and airtime to survivors of domestic violence and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention, awareness and advocacy.

Since the national recycling program began in 2001, Verizon Wireless said HopeLine has collected more than 9 million phones nationwide; awarded more than $14 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 123,000 HopeLine phones with more than 406 million minutes of airtime to domestic violence victims, survivors and organizations.

HopeLine wireless phone donations are accepted at all Verizon Wireless communications stores across the nation, including all retail locations in Indiana. To find a nearby donation location using a zip code search, visit: http://www.verizonwireless.com/storelocator

For more information on HopeLine from Verizon and to learn how to donate a wireless phone (including postage-paid donations through the mail), visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline for general information or http://aboutus.verizonwireless.com/communityservice/Shipping.html for a pre-paid mailing label.