BRADENTON — Collecting cell phones for soldiers is a project that hits close to home for Keller Williams Realty of Manatee.
On the realty group’s 70-member team, four real estate agents have relatives who are in the military, so coming up with a community service project was an easy choice.
They chose to participate in Cell Phones For Soldiers, a national nonprofit that collects used cell phones that are traded in for calling cards issued to troops.
“We have agents in our office like people all over Manatee and Sarasota counties that have loved ones who are in the military,” said Wendy Herndon, a real estate consultant for Keller Williams. “We wanted to do something as a team to help families have a little more peace of mind that if they can’t be with a family member in the military at least they could talk to them.”
Herndon said Keller Williams has collected an estimated 100 cell phones since February. The phones collected are shipped to Cell Phones For Soldiers, which sends them to ReCellular. ReCellular pays the nonprofit for the phones. For each phone, ReCellular pays the equivalent cost of a one-hour phone card that can be used abroad.
The project is close to real estate agent Roger Cumbie’s heart. His son was deployed June 2 to serve 12 months in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army.
Cumbie said he was anxious to help organize the project locally even though his son will not directly benefit from it since he’ll be spending a majority of his time in areas with restricted phone use.
“For other soldiers in Iraq or other parts where infrastructure is better and they can use phones, it is tremendously important,” Cumbie said. “It’s wonderful to be able to communicate with our sons or daughters who are half a world away.”
Bob Serena, a Realtor for Keller Williams, said the project was important to him knowing how much he wished he had had phone access during his service in Vietnam with the Marine Corps.
“My heart ached because I couldn’t have the closeness of a conversation with family,” Serena said.
Jim Comkowycz, director of Manatee’s Operation Troop Support, said the local military support organization serves about 40 military members who are from Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Phone cards are often requested for monthly care packages sent to troops and Manatee’s Operation Troop Support sends them when they can.
While phone access for troops depends on their base and their duties, Comkowycz said it’s a much appreciated donation.
“Some have daily access, some don’t get to communicate with their families for months,” Comkowycz said. “For those that can use phone cards, that’s a real blessing for them to have.”
For more information about the program or to donate a phone, visit the Serena Group Web site at www.the serenagroup.com, or call (941) 928-1249.
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