By Dana Prifti, Media Relations

After a successful first run of collecting used cell phones to donate to the Cell Phones for Soldiers program, Sylvia Marple, an associate professor in hospitality management, has established another drop site at the CIS walk-in location in the MUB to collect more phones.

Begun in April 2004, the Cell Phones for Soldiers program collects used cell phones from across the country. Fed Ex, a partner in the program, ships them for free to recycling plants, which purchase them. The recycling proceeds are used to buy calling cards that are sent overseas so soldiers can call home for free.

Since she first set up the drop site at the MUB Info Desk, Marple has collected approximately 130 used cell phones and expects more and more every day. After Spring Break, Marple encourages people to use the drop-off location offered by CIS.

Marple was thrilled when Foster’s Daily Democrat picked up the story after seeing it in The New Hampshire and ran a story about it. After it appeared in Foster’s, Marple said she received 10 to 12 phone calls from people wanting to know where they could drop off cell phones.

Gary Armitage, formerly the general manager of UNH’s New England Center, owns and runs Elite Hobby Shop on Washington Street in Dover, which is now also a drop site for Cell Phones for Soldiers. Marple is pleased that more sites are popping up in local areas instead of just on-campus. “It’s nice for local people,” she said.

Since beginning this project, Marple has shipped cell phones twice and stresses how helpful it is that FedEx is a partner in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. “They just send a label,” she said “And when you’re ready, they pick it up.”

After, “such a good response from students,” Marple is excited to see this program grow in the local community and she is confident that it will catch on just as it has at UNH. She expects to send out another shipment at the end of March.

If you are interested in donating, drop off your used cell phones at the following locations:
CIS in the MUB, Elite Hobby Shop in Dover, (603) 749-0800, and Sylvia Marple’s office, McConnell Rm. 437, or through campus mail.