Donate Your Cell with Purpose

We have a plethora of old cell phones laying around our house - flip phones, pull out texting phones, a blackberry, I think.  I keep them mostly because I haven't known how to erase the data  to recycle them safely.  Anyone know how to do this?

I recently learned of a program that allows you to donate your cell phone and accessories (batteries, cords and chargers) to help survivors and victims of domestic violence in the United States.  Verizon's HopeLine program donates cell phones with 3,000 minutes to domestic violence helping organizations across the United States to provide a lifeline for victims and survivors to the outside world.  With these phones, the individual is able to stay connected to family members, law enforcement, employers and others beyond the control of their abuser. 

The HopeLine program also refurbishes and sells phones to provide cash grants to domestic violence organizations to help further their missions of helping and preventing. 

Since the inception of the HopeLine program, Verizon has collected 9 million phones, provided $14 million in cash grants and donated over 123,000 phones to domestic violence victims and survivors. 

While this is an initiative by Verizon, they accept donated phones from any provider.  The only thing they won't accept is a swollen, rancid phone, which I doubt anyone has laying around their house anyway.  Any phone that can't be used to further this program is responsibly discarded. 

Here's how to donated your used cell phone with purpose:

• Erase the data from your phone.
• Remove all storage and SIM cards.
• Place your donation, along with the accessories you wish to donate in a plastic bag.
• Drop your phone off to a Verizon Wireless store HopeLine donation bin (found in all Verizon Wireless stores). 
• OR pack up your phone and accessories in a secure mailing envelope, request a prepaid postage label and send it out. 

Want more details?  Here's the link to the HopeLine program to find out more.