Tuesday,
September 24, 2002
SUFFOLK
REGISTRY TO PUT OLD MOBILE PHONES TO NEW USE; MOBILE PHONE
COLLECTION DRIVE TO AID VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE:
From
now until the end of October, the Suffolk County Probate and
Family Court Registry will be collecting unused mobile phones,
batteries and chargers on behalf of families affected by
domestic violence and abuse. October is National Domestic
Violence Awareness Month, and Registry officials are
contributing to efforts to end domestic violence and abuse by
sponsoring the collection drive.
“Here
in the Probate Courts, we see the devastating effect that
violence and abuse has on our families every day,” said
Register of Probate Richard Iannella. “With this effort, we
might be able to keep some of these incidents from happening
in the future.”
Collection
boxes have been set up at the Registry on the 3rd floor of the
Edward Brooke Courthouse at 24 New Chardon Street in Boston.
Donations can also be mailed to the Registry. At the end of
the drive, the phones, batteries and chargers will be sent to
Motorola for reprogramming. During that process, the phones
are set to dial 911 or other official contact numbers only,
and are then given free to those who fear physical abuse or
assault so that help can be summoned immediately if they are
attacked.
“Many
of us have an unused phone after switching carriers or buying
a new one, and you just don’t know what to do with it,”
said Iannella. “This is a great opportunity to get rid of
your old phone while putting it to good use in the process.”
Iannella also reminds contributors that their donations are
tax deductible.
Registers
of Probate from across Massachusetts are joining with Suffolk
County in holding mobile phone collection drives during
October. From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, many indicate that
they will join the effort, including the Registries in
Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Norfolk Counties.
The
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Call to
Protect project sponsor the partnership with Motorola and are
supported by local collection drives like the upcoming
Registry effort.
For
more information or directions to the Registry, call (617)
788-8300.
