Where to donate cell phones?

[JerryLBell]

We have a few smart phones we no longer need. In the past, we've seen groups collecting them for families of soldiers, battered women, etc. Are there any groups in The Villages that collect cell phones for distribution?

[Wing-nut2]

I know several who load up the old phone with music and use it as an iPod.

[JoelJohnson]

You can also use it as a security camera, just download some software. I did that for a while, but then the phone battery died.

[Jayhawk]

We have a few smart phones we no longer need. In the past, we've seen groups collecting them for families of soldiers, battered women, etc. Are there any groups in The Villages that collect cell phones for distribution?

Donate and Recycle Cell Phones for Soldiers, Veterans and their Families (https://www.bigskyrecycling.com/recycle/military/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl9GCBhDvARIsAFunhskiI_0jsdLXLLAzzX8 NVbNjYw22ruTmauhxPL41jIB9HuqVjPyBWKkaAggrEALw_wcB)

[Harry Gilbert]

Before donating do a factory reset on the phone(s) You'd be amazed what personal info is hidden away on your phone. google factory reset for your phone model

[retiredguy123]

Donate and Recycle Cell Phones for Soldiers, Veterans and their Families (https://www.bigskyrecycling.com/recycle/military/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl9GCBhDvARIsAFunhskiI_0jsdLXLLAzzX8 NVbNjYw22ruTmauhxPL41jIB9HuqVjPyBWKkaAggrEALw_wcB)
Note that this is a "for profit" company. You can give them a cell phone, but it is not 501c3 charity for tax deduction purposes. And, apparently, there is no way to verify that they are actually helping soldiers and veterans. It sounds deceptive to me.

[Phoneman]

If still available, would love to have just one phone for my five year old grandson who used his only to contact us.
We live in the Village of Pinellas and he in Chicago. He misplaced his and we would love to surprise him. Parental permission was granted 🤣
Phoneman

[Jayhawk]

Note that this is a "for profit" company. You can give them a cell phone, but it is not 501c3 charity for tax deduction purposes. And, apparently, there is no way to verify that they are actually helping soldiers and veterans. It sounds deceptive to me.

Big Sky Recycling also donates their profits to a variety of causes from nonprofit organizations, including supporting Soldiers overseas (Operation Shoebox), planting trees (One Tree Planted) and feeding hungry children (No Kid Hungry).

Big Sky Recycling is Granted 'Certified B Corp' Status | Waste360 (https://www.waste360.com/business/big-sky-recycling-granted-certified-b-corp-status)

Big Sky Recycling Reviews - Read Customer Reviews of bigskyrecycling.com Before You Buy | Trust Mamma (https://www.mamma.com/us/bigskyrecycling-com)

Big Sky Recycling Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of bigskyrecycling.com (https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bigskyrecycling.com)

[retiredguy123]

Big Sky Recycling also donates their profits to a variety of causes from nonprofit organizations, including supporting Soldiers overseas (Operation Shoebox), planting trees (One Tree Planted) and feeding hungry children (No Kid Hungry).

Big Sky Recycling is Granted 'Certified B Corp' Status | Waste360 (https://www.waste360.com/business/big-sky-recycling-granted-certified-b-corp-status)

Big Sky Recycling Reviews - Read Customer Reviews of bigskyrecycling.com Before You Buy | Trust Mamma (https://www.mamma.com/us/bigskyrecycling-com)

Big Sky Recycling Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of bigskyrecycling.com (https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bigskyrecycling.com)
Not to belabor the point, but all companies donate to charity. If that is their purpose, why aren't they a bona fide charity? They have hundreds of reviews and more than 99 percent of them are 5 stars. Really? I hope they are actually helping veterans, but there doesn't seem to be any way to verify it. Also, if recycling is the goal, mailing old cell phones around the country seems very inefficient.