Nov 21, 2024 | Updated: 11:35 AM EDT
Dec 16, 2013 12:02 PM EST
It’s that time of the year for giving back. What better way than to donate your old Android smartphones to someone else in need? There are many ways to do this over the holiday season. And many rewards by helping others. For users who may upgrade their smartphone over the holidays to those who may be simply disposing their old model smartphones for Android, donating these devices are sure to help those in need.
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Below is a list of places where these devices can be donated:
Victims of Domestic Violence
HopeLine from Verizon collects phones to benefit victims of domestic violence. Visit any verizon wireless store.
Active Duty Soldiers
Cell Phones for Soldiers helps active duty personnel communicate with loved ones back home. Visit cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
Your Local Community
American Cell Phone Drives works with over 4,000 local organizations that take cell phone donations across the country. Visit the Americancellphonedrive.org to find an organization in your community.
Others In Need
The Cell Phone Bank provides phones to those who might need to contact emergency services, like senior citizens. Visit www.www.cellphonebank.org.
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Below are the links from the causes of the infographic:
www.americancellphonedrive.org
A lot of partnership services are available within any local community. The services are all free and simple. Some organizations will allow users to send their item via mail. Some services will even offer a cash amount for older model trade ins. Andrea Eldridge, CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, stated some security tips for old model devices, "Before selling or donating your old smartphone, remove the SIM card and any expansion memory cards, which are common on some devices," she says. While removing memory cards will clear some data, it's critical that you also do a factory reset to restore the phone to its original condition. "Each type of device is a little different, but if you Google the term 'factory reset,' along with the name of your phone, you'll find instructions on how to wipe it clean."
These are simple ways that are extremely rewarding to donating smartphones over the holidays. According to Pew Internet Research, more than 90 percent of people over 18 in the United States owning a cell phone, and more than half of all adults with a smartphone. Verizon Wireless has given consumers options to trade in their phones since 2001. HopeLine from Verizon encourages consumers to donate their phones to be turned into support for victims of domestic violence. In 2011, Verizon Wireless added a trade-in program, through which customers receive monetary value for their old phones. Before donating the older model phones, make sure they are in good condition for trade.
