A CALL FOR HELP

               Mt. Pocono, February 23, 2007 -- Many of us take our cell phone for granted, using it more as a luxury than a necessity.  But for some people, the device can be a matter of life or death.

             The Mount Pocono office of state Senator Robert J. Mellow is working with Women’s Resources of Monroe County to help victims of domestic and sexual violence by serving as a designated Cell Phone recycling Drop off destination.

             The phones are reprogrammed and distributed to those individuals who otherwise would not have the resources available to call for help in emergency situations. According to Eva Young of Women’s Resources, “Most phones, even though they are de-activated, still have the ability to dial 9-1-1.  What we do is provide a free phone and charger to victims of domestic violence, so that they will have it in case of an emergency.

Although the phones cannot access other numbers, the caller can ask to be put through to Women’s Resources hotline or to the police through the 9-1-1 control center operator.”

             Alma Ruiz-Smith, Legislative Aid to Mellow, coordinates the collection of cell phones in the senator’s Mt. Pocono office. “It’s important that people are aware of the program and continue to support it,” said Ruiz-Smith, who cited sonofi-pasteur, Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pocono Community Church and Property Owners Associations at A Pocono Country Place, Timber Trails and Lake Naomi as groups that have donated cell phones.

            “We’ve got to help arm victims and their families with the necessary tools and devices that will help in defending them from abusive spouses or partners.”

            Senator Mellow echoed those thoughts: “Domestic violence is a problem that happens all too much, and is not confined to any particular borough, city or country.  I have always been a strong supporter of legislation that protects victims of such heinous acts -- but laws alone won’t stop those things from happening. We all have to do what we can to help these people who are being abused. With so many cell phones in use today, this program provides a virtual life-line to individuals in a life-threatening crisis.”

            Women’s Resources of Monroe County partners with Shelter Alliance (www.shelteralliance.net), a national program that currently works with more than 1,700 social service organizations in 50 states and has contributed over $3 million dollars to participating organizations. Shelter Alliance pays a small cash stipend for each phone, depending on the make and model.  The program is often used as a fund raising source for agencies with limited resources. 

             “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Senator Mellow’s office as we make an effort to provide free emergency cell phones to victims of domestic violence and to raise extra funds to continue our work,” said Ms. Young.

             Almost 500 cell phones have been dropped off at Mellow’s Monroe county office since it became a collection point last year. The office is located at 102 Pocono Boulevard, Mt. Pocono (570) 839-4812.  Cell phones can be left during normal Monday through Friday business hours.