Tuesday,
September 14, 2004
SUFFOLK PROBATE REGISTRY PUTS OLD MOBILE PHONES TO NEW USE;
4th ANNUAL PHONE COLLECTION DRIVE TO AID VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
AND ABUSE:
During
the month of October, the Suffolk County Probate and Family
Court Registry will once again 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 for the fourth straight year,
Registry officials are contributing to efforts to end domestic
violence and abuse by sponsoring the collection drive.
“Every
day, we in the Family Court bear witness to the devastating
effect that violence and abuse has on our families and our
community,” said Register of Probate Richard Iannella.
“Through this ongoing effort, we might be able to keep some
of these incidents from happening in the future.”
Collection
boxes will be set up at the Registry, located on the third
floor of the Edward Brooke Courthouse, 24 New Chardon Street,
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 switched carriers or upgraded our phones, and you
just don’t know what to do with the old one,” 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.
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 annual Registry
effort. Thus far, over the last three years, more than one
thousand phones have been donated to the program through the
Suffolk Registry.
