Vet News: Veterans Advantage Nationwide Drive to Reward the Troops Accelerates

On September 11th 2003 in New York City's Grand Central Station, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority issued a challenge: Donate a million used cell phones to thank the troops.

It started with donations received across New York City's major transport hubs. Since then, we have been pleased to announce police and fire departments from many of the nation’s largest cities have joined the R&R program.

The task is simple:collect used or unwanted cell phones and drop them off at centralized locations. The phones are recycled or re-sold, and the proceeds provide pre-paid Veterans Advantage cards for returning National Guard and Reserve members.

A Nation-wide campaign

In the last month, the nationwide rollout of this important initiative has accelerated, most recently with the addition of the following city police, fire, and municipal authorities:

• Alameda County (CA) Sheriff
• Atlanta Police
• Baltimore Police
• Boston Police
• Boston Fire
• Charlotte Police
• City of Charlotte
• Cook County (IL)
• Dallas Police
• Fulton County (GA) Sheriff
• Harris Country (TX)
• Houston Fire
• Los Angeles Sheriff
• Memphis Police
• Minneapolis Police
• New Orleans Police
• Orange County (CA) Police
• Orlando Police
• Orlando Fire
• Philadelphia Police
• Salt Lake City Police
• San Bernadino (CA) Sheriff
• San Jose (CA) Police
• Seattle Fire
• Wayne County (MI) Sheriff

Many of the stations at these above authorities are accepting phones. If you do not have a local participating donation center, or if you prefer to ship phones directly to the R&R program, mail your phones to:

Recycle & Reward
c/o Veterans Advantage
81 Holly Hill Lane,
Greenwich, CT, 06830

An American Tradition – Supporting our Troops

"Home Front" campaigns to support servicemen and women are an American tradition going back to World War II, when citizens were asked to conserve and invest to back deployed military forces. Since September 11th 2001, Americans have been increasingly aware of the sacrifices made by those who serve in our armed forces.

With over 200,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve called up in the last two years for the Global War on Terrorism, families and employers in communities across the nation have been touched by the call to service. The "R&R" program offers something every American can do to help, at no cost and with little effort. There are an estimated 200 million used cell phones in America hiding in desk drawers or taking up space on closet shelves. While of no real monetary value, their owners should not toss them out. Old cell phones represent an environmental hazard if discarded into the waste stream, so the R&R program not only helps support our troops, it is good for the planet as well.

The R&R campaign ideal for service organizations, churches, and neighborhoods as well as businesses and local government services.
Contact Recycle & Reward via Recycle & Reward
to get started, and help R&R collect a million phones by Veterans Day.