Troops Stationed In More Than A Dozen Countries Served By Cell Phones For Soldiers
Boston, MA (PRWEB) March 27, 2014 -- In 2013, Cell Phones For Soldiers connected 380,000 military families with more than 23 million minutes of free talk time. The calls from the United States to servicemen and women reached more than a dozen locations around the world including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany and more.
According to VetFriends.com, U.S. military personnel are deployed in approximately 150 countries with more than 240,000 estimated troops serving overseas.
For 10 years, Cell Phones For Soldiers has proudly supported all branches of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, Coast Guard – with its Minutes That Matter program which provides free international calling cards to men and women in uniform.
“It’s an honor to serve those who so proudly serve us,” said Robbie Bergquist, co-founder of Cell Phones For Soldiers. “However, it’s imperative we not forget that troops are always serving whether on peace-keeping missions, training or fighting. A phone call home truly makes a difference. They need home; they need family; and they need our support.”
In 2013, calling cards reached Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cuba, Djibouti (Africa), United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Honduras, and South Korea. Of those sent overseas, 52.9 percent were delivered to Afghanistan; 11.1 percent to Saudi Arabia; 10.6 percent to Kuwait; and 5.1 percent to Qatar. Additionally, Cell Phones For Soldiers issued 13.2 percent of its overseas cards to the Navy in undisclosed locations.
One calling card impacts the life of a serviceman. “I appreciate the cards as they allow me time to communicate with my mom and sons back in the U.S.,” said a soldier. “Sometimes I feel that people forget the constant sacrifices we make, even with something as small as being able to make a phone call. I truly thank you for sending the calling cards and making this soldier very happy.”
Minutes That Matter also benefits servicemen and women stateside. The program issues calling cards to support care packages, veterans’ hospitals, military bases and more.
For more information or to get involved, please visit http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS INC.
Cell Phones For Soldiers Inc. is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. Founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, Cell Phones For Soldiers has provided more than 204 million “Minutes That Matter” to deployed troops. Since 2012, “Helping Heroes Home” has provided emergency funds for more than 400 returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest pages.
Erin McCloskey, ASPIRE Communications, +1 (336) 207-5222, [email protected]
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