The First Brass of Sarasota helps provide troops with free calls home

The First Brass of Sarasota and non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers are asking Sarasota residents to help troops call home by donating their 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 used cellular phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers, Sarasota residents can provide troops with a precious connection to loved ones back home.

On May 26, residents can donate their phones to the cause at a Memorial Day concert at Church of the Palms, as well as a July 4 concert by The First Brass at 811 S. Palm Ave. Throughout the entire year, The First Brass will post collection boxes in churches, retirement centers and local businesses. For a list of locations call (941) 928-0296. You can also visit TheFirstBrass.org to donate or to become a collection location.

The First Brass are also participants in the Patterson Foundation’s “Legacy of Valor” program, a yearlong project leading up to the opening of the new “Patriot Plaza” amphitheater at the Sarasota National Cemetery. The “Legacy of Valor” program is designed to honor veterans, inspire patriotism and embrace freedom. Keeping the families of the men and women in the military in touch through Cell Phones for Soldiers is a great way to citizens to honor, inspire and embrace their fellow Americans.

Siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist founded Cell Phones for Soldiers at the ages of 12 and 13. The charity has since provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time to servicemen and servicewomen stationed around the world. Funds raised from the recycling of cellular phones are also used to purchase pre-paid international calling cards. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 12,000 calling cards each week to worldwide bases, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

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.

ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS, INC.

Cell Phones for Soldiers, Inc. (CPFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military. Based in Norwell, Mass., CPFS was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. From the recycling of used mobile phones and cash donations, the organization has raised more than $7 million, collected more than 8.3 million cell phones and provided troops overseas with more than 114 million minutes of free talk time. For more information, visit cellphonesforsoldiers.com and follow CPFS on Facebook at facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers.