WTBQ adds its voice to cell phone collection effort

Florida - WTBQ is serving as a new collection point for cell phones. Led by Bob Martell, vice commander for the American Legion Post 488 in Monroe, “Cell Phones for Soldiers” collects cell phones, which are then recycled for cash to purchase telephone cards and pay for videophone calls, for service men and women in the armed forces. For every phone donated, 72 minutes is dedicated on a prepaid calling card to a soldier in Iraq. Martell has been a frequent guest on the Uncle Buck (aka Frank Pileggi), which airs every Friday from 12 noon to 3 p.m., encouraging listeners to donate their unused and outdated cell phones and related equipment. With 200 phones recently acquired through Uncle Buck’s efforts, and an additional 263 phones from Rolling Thunder Communications in Monroe, 1,314 cell phones have been collected in only five months and Martell vows to keep going in this effort. That means soldiers have had 96,608 minutes on prepaid cell phone cards sent to them to call their loved ones and friends. Uncle Buck has also established additional collection points in surrounding communities. See the adjacent box for existing and new collection sites. For additional information, contact the American Legion Hall at 783-3965. Want to donate a cell phone? Here’s the growing number of locations: Chester • Chester Diner • Village Deli • Jenny’s Deli • Eastwood Tile • The Chester residence of Frank Pileggi, aka, “Uncle Buck” of Radio Station WTBQ Cornwall • BMB Embroiderers Florida • Provident Bank • Northern Bear • Radio Station WBTQ Middletown • The Greek Orthodox Church Highland Mills • Mario’s Monroe • Planet Pizza • The Town of Monroe Town Hall • The Captain’s Table • Birchwood Caterers • Sacred Heart Church Warwick • Union African Methodist Episcopal Church, Warwick • Leo Kaytes Ford, Warwick