Secure the Call and Albertsons Team Up to Recycle Cell Phones During Domestic Violence Awareness Month

California has just passed a bill for mandatory recycling of cellular phones. More than 44,000 cell phones are discarded daily that could be used for victims of domestic violence. Secure the Call, a non-profit that refurbishes cell phones and turns them into 911 emergency phones, and Albertsons are hosting a drive at all Northern California Albertsons during October--Domestic Violence Awareness month. Battered women shelters, senior citizens, police and sheriffs offices, as well as school crossing guards and school buss drives are all candidates for the 911 emergency phones.

Berkeley, CA (PRWEB) October 4, 2004 - Secure the Call, a non-profit organization that recycles and donates free 911 emergency phones to the community, has teamed up with Albertsons, Inc. (NYSE: ABS) Northern California during Domestic Violence Awareness month in October to collect used cell phones to refurbish and distribute them to those who need a cell phone for the purpose of calling 911 in the event of an emergency. Targeted areas for distribution include -- Battered Womens Shelters, Senior Citizen Centers, Police and Sheriffs Offices, School Crossing Guards, School Bus Drivers and many other organizations.

According to Californians Against Waste, there are more 45,000 cell phones thrown away every day in the state. Recently Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger passed the phone recycling bill making recycling mandatory in the State of California. Secure the Call and Albertsons are providing a community source for individuals to donate their unused phones.

Albertsons is thrilled to partner with Secure the Call and place cell phone collection bins in all of our Northern California stores," said Donna Robbins, Albertsons Northern California Division President. We have made it easy for our customers to drop in a phone and help provide needed cell phones as well as be conscientious recyclers."

Our goal is to distribute thousands of emergency-only cell phones to Domestic Violence Shelters and individuals in need throughout Northern California, during our phone drive in October," stated Volante Williams, Secure the Call President. Teaming with Albertsons enables Secure the Call to reach out to the community faster. We anticipate a successful drive while creating awareness of domestic violence. We look forward to giving the community the opportunity to donate their old cell phones. In addition to providing a needed service to those without a cell phone, Secure the Calls program keeps phones out of the local landfills."

Secure the Call collects mobile phones and reprograms them to be used as emergency only phones. Secure the Call inspects and cleans the phones, charges the batteries and prepares the phone for distribution. Any phone that can be turned on can be used to call 911 even without a carrier service plan. Phones with or without accessories can be deposited in special boxes located at your neighborhood Albertsons location.

For further information on this program, please call (877) 822-9200 or visit www.securethecall-ca.org. Please contact Quyen Ha at Albertsons for photo opportunities at (510) 678-5445.

About Secure the Call
Secure the Call is a nonprofit all volunteer organization dedicated to providing free emergency 911 cell phones to people that need them. Whether its a senior citizen needing medial treatment or a domestic violence victim needing the police, a cell phone can help save a life. Secure the Call will benefit people who would otherwise not be able to obtain a 911 emergency cell phone. The program has the potential to help tens of thousands of people in the community.

About Albertsons, Inc.
Albertsons is one of the worlds largest food and drug retailers with annual revenues of over $35 billion. Based in Boise, Idaho, the Company employs more than 230,000 employees and operates approximately 2,500 retail stores in 37 states across the United States, under banners including Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Albertsons-Osco, Albertsons-Sav-on, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug, Super Saver, Shaws and Star Market. For more information about Albertsons, please visit our website at www.albertsons.com

# # #