Brookfield AT&T Store Collects Cell Phones to Help the Troops

Brookfield area residents can help troops serving overseas call home to their families by recycling their old cell phones at the local AT&T store this fall.  AT&T announced Wednesday that it is hosting a cell phone recycling drive at its Brookfield store from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11, Veterans Day, in an effort to support U.S. military troops.

Recycling old cell phones to benefit those in the military is the least we can do to recognize the sacrifices they make to serve our country, says State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield).  A veteran of the Iraq War, Rep. Kooyenga is a current member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

“Each and every day, our military men and women make tremendous sacrifices to protect our nation and our freedoms,” said Rep. Kooyenga.  “As a veteran and a Reservist, I encourage all area residents to join me in participating in this recycling drive to show our gratitude to our troops.  Helping our military families remain together across great distances is the least we can do to support them.”

Wireless customers are encouraged to drop their unwanted cell phones off at AT&T’s Brookfield store, located at 17365 Bluemound Road.  Before donating devices, individuals should remove any SIM card, erase their data and restore their device to factory settings.

The phones will be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a charity that uses recycling proceeds to buy and send free phone cards to military members stationed away from home.  The program was founded in 2004 by then teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist as a way for military families serving overseas to keep in touch with family back home.

“As a company, AT&T is committed to showing our support for our troops and our veterans every day of the year,” said Scott VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin.  “We are proud to support this worthy program and make a difference for our military men and women serving away from home.”

AT&T has a long-standing mission of connecting members of our nation’s military with their loved ones back home.  With the support of AT&T and cell phone donations by its customers, Cell Phones for Soldiers has generated more than $3 million to help connect military members to their families back home.

AT&T is also proud to support Cell Phones for Soldiers’ veterans initiative – “Helping Heroes Home” – which provides emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges, as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.  In 2012, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation supported “Helping Heroes Homes” through a financial commitment of more than $450,000.