Brittany and Rob Bergquist were only 13 and 12 years old when they started Cell Phones For Soldiers. They saw a need—learning in 2004 about a serviceman in Iraq who’d racked up a massive phone bill calling home—and they didn’t wait to meet it.
That’s why, almost 16 years later, we find it so inspiring when we learn about young people stepping up for a great cause. And it’s why, last week, Rob traveled to Michigan to meet with some of our most dedicated young supporters.
Lake Orion High School held its 6th annual Cell Out For Soldiers. About 1,800 students and adults at LOHS gave up their phones for a day. For each phone given up, a donation was made to Cell Phones For Soldiers. Cell Out, in its first five years, raised more than $20,000 for Cell Phones For Soldiers, and they hoped to raise another $8,000 this year.
In addition to helping our troops serving abroad—we send phone cards to help defray the cost of secure international calls, which can be very expensive—Cell Out had an added benefit for the school: Without the distraction of cell phones, students took the time to communicate face-to-face, creating a more engaging community for the day.
Fox 2 Detroit reporter Roop Raj was on hand during this year’s Cell Out and captured the spirit of this special day at LOHS. The video also does a great job of sharing the story of Cell Phones For Soldiers.
If you are a student or a school employee who is interested in holding a similar event at your school; or a supporter interested in hosting a Cell Phones For Soldiers donation drive at your church, business, scout troop, or community organization, you can get started by visiting www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com or emailing us at info@cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
