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Green Bay Packers, Verizon to collect used cell phones for domestic violence victims |
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Sep. 27, 2011
Written by Nathan Phelps
Green Bay Press-Gazette
Verizon Wireless and the Green Bay Packers kicked off a campaign Tuesday to collect used phones at home games and retail locations in an effort to fight domestic violence in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Karen Faulkner, executive director of Golden House in Green Bay, said the organization benefits from the donations of phones and the exposure the Packers give the issue. The phones are provided to domestic violence victims to help them quickly access support services and contact authorities if needed.
“We use HopeLine phones in our program every day with victims, whether they are staying with us in the shelter or coming in for outreach services, it’s part of their safety plan,” Faulker said after a press conference announcing this year’s campaign.
“The program gives us not only the materials we need but the funding through special promotions like this as well as letting people know about domestic violence in our community and making it less of a secret.”
Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson and his wife Emily are part of the program and have recorded a public service announcement about the campaign, “Protection is the Name of the Game,” and efforts to curb domestic violence.
The Packers cell phone collection campaign is part of a wider national HopeLine phone re-use and recycling campaign from Verizon Wireless.
Last year, the Packers-related portion of the campaign collected 767 phones. The company donated $10 for each of those phones, for a total of $7,670, to seven domestic violence shelters in the state and upper peninsula.
Deposit boxes for phones are located at the Verizon Wireless gate and near guest services in the Lambeau Field atrium.
As part of the campaign, Verizon also is launching an eight-city Journey of Hope bus tour at Lambeau Field Sunday.
The tour’s goal is to record stories of domestic violence on smartphones and tablets.
“These testimonies will be collected and posted on Facebook to further the discussion about this community issue,” said Carolyn Schamberger, executive director of the Midwest area for Verizon Wireless.
Domestic violence organizations will provide information about the topic and availability of community support programs.
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