RICHLAND COUNTY (WACH) -- Is your cell phone not working? Instead of trashing it, why not donate it? It could save a life.
“We take thousands of handsets per month at our locations,” says Steve Haupt of Verizon Wireless.
Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected cell phones more than 7 million of them for HopeLine, a national recycling and refurbishing program that gives handsets to victims of domestic violence.
"Any phone can be donated to HopeLine,” says Haupt. “The phones that aren't able to get refurbished are destroyed appropriately.”
The cell phones that meet the standards are shipped across the nation to various organizations and shelters.
According to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the state ranks eighth in the U.S. for women killed by men. It’s a scary statistic, but through programs like HopeLine, it can give victims a voice.
Rebecca Williams- Agee works with the coalition and points out that victims have a better chance of survival when they have access to phones.
“Calling for help and recognizing the problem is really the first step in getting these victims out of these relationships and helping them stand on their own two feet and be self-sufficient, which is so often the problem,” said Williams-Agee.
One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and HopeLine can provide help to those who may be feeling hopeless.
Cell phones and equipment donations can be dropped off at any Verizon Wireless store.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH