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February 8, 2012

Forum: HopeLine gives phones to needy

By John Granby ----

Many of us start off the new year with resolutions for the future. Why not include a pledge to give back to those in need here in the Traverse City area? The best part? You can get started on your resolution right now.

If you received a new phone for the holidays, you can easily turn your old device into a lifeline by recycling it or putting it in the hands of someone who needs it.

Recycling and giving back to people in need couldn't be easier. Many retailers in the area have implemented recycling programs to help consumers recycle their phones and other electronics; one such retailer is Verizon Wireless.

Through HopeLine from Verizon, the company accepts wireless devices, batteries and accessories in any condition from any manufacturer or service provider. The phones can be dropped off at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store or dropped in the mail with a postage-paid label, and the company will either refurbish them or dispose of them in an environmentally sound way.

These refurbished phones can either go directly into the hands of a domestic violence survivor or turned into cash grants for local domestic violence organizations. Not only does your device go through the proper channels to get recycled, but it also ends up in the hands of someone who needs it.

So what happens to the personal information on your phone when sending the device to a recycling program? As part of the refurbishing process, HopeLine scrubs all donated phones to ensure customer information is removed. In addition, in a few quick steps, you can remove all personal information yourself from your device:

1. Ensure that your service has been turned off and your account has been terminated from the device.

2. Make sure you have logged out of all social networking sites, emails, wireless networks and applications. Once logged out, you should ensure that your password information is cleared from the device.

3. Erase contacts from your address book, delete call logs, erase messages, and remove your stored photos, videos and other media.

The new year gives us a great opportunity to give back to others in Traverse City. All it takes is one simple action and a quick trip to a nearby Verizon Wireless store or post office drop box to make a difference in our community.

Thanks to consumers who donated their phones to HopeLine, more than 8 million no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories have been either refurbished or turned into cash grants to benefit victims and domestic violence organizations across the country, totaling more than $10 million.

Start the new year off right — make a difference in your community with one quick and easy step.

About the author: John Granby is president of the Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region for Verizon Wireless. For more information on HopeLine, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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