Cell Phones for Soldiers at Turner Funeral Home Wednesday, February 17, 2010 8:40 AM - More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Hundreds of Veterans & Family Memorial Care Providers nationwide are calling on all Americans to support these brave men and women by donating your old unused cell phones. Turner Funeral Home in Ellwood City is the exclusive Veterans & Family Memorial Care Provider for Lawrence County and has become an official drop off site for Cell Phones for Soldiers to help troops stay connected with their families. Ellwood City area residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at Turner Funeral Home located at Sixth Street and Park Avenue at any time. If they are closed, simply drop the cell phones in the donation box found in the foyer. “We’re proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers,” said Ken Turner, owner of Turner Funeral Home. Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, MA with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone, enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials. You can help Turner Funeral Home in their goal to help provide every U.S. soldier with a way to call home for free. For more information, visit www.turnerfh.com or call 724-758-4504.