I want to donate eight cell phones, most with batts, cords and books.
Searching the SDMB, I found a 2003 reply, but it’s not very informative and things have changed.
Searching the Net provides an abundance of sites, but most have many hoops. (Must provide verifiable email address…)
I don’t care about getting money or a tax deduction…I want quick and easy.
I don’t want to charge all these phones to make sure all the personal data has been removed, can’t I just take out the memory card?
What’s the straight dope?
Staples has some little disposal canisters to dump them, but that’s really for disposal.
Re donating I would give them to a women’s shelter as emergency 911 phones. Re data most phones keep the messages and name data in the onboard built in phone memory unless you explicitly tell the phone to save to the SIM card, so you do need to erase the data. Most phones have a master erase function buried in the sub-menus to allow you to scrub all the onboard data before donating.
If you have any Motorola Razrs in the mix these are still worth quite good money on ebay.
You can donate them to the March of Dimes. All you have to do is mail them/drop them off at your local March of Dimes and they don’t need anything from you. Then they mail it on to their recycling centers.
Our local DSVS (Domestic and Sexual Violence Services) center accepts donated cellphones. They are issued to women that are relocated or placed in “safe houses” while trying to get out of abusive situations. If you PM me, I’d be happy to provide you with their website and any other information you’d like. You could also just send the phones to me and I’ll take them down there.
I second this suggestion. In some domestic violence scenarios, the women are lucky to escape with the clothes on their backs. A working cell phone makes it much easier to contact lawyers, counselors, court officials, etc. Kudos to Gary for volunterring to help with the donation.
1.Originally, I wanted to give the phones to a battered women’s shelter, but I read today that they were ‘inundated.’
2. I lived in Montana for a spell, and the woman I am still best friends with was a battered wife.
3. I’d love to live in Montana, (beautiful country and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met), even if they are a red state. (Then there’s winter: I have friends who have had to exit their homes by climbing out the second story window due to snow.)
So, Mr. Robson, I’ll be in touch.
And thanks to all who responded. I’m sure the information you provided will be of value to others.