Local businesses help fundraiser that gives calling cards to soldiers

Three local establishments make it easy for Naperville residents to give back to United States troops serving overseas. Liberty Tax Service, From My Room and Congregation Beth Shalom are all local drop-off centers for Cell Phones for Soldiers, a program in which discarded cell phones are turned into prepaid calling cards for the military.

Cell phones can be dropped off at drop boxes at any one of these three program participants' locations. When they have a full box, they ship it to a recycling company in Michigan, which pays for each donated phone. That money, in turn, is used to buy prepaid calling cards that are sent to soldiers abroad. Each phone is worth about an hour of phone card minutes.

The local businesses each have their own motivation for doing so.

Reasons for giving

For Matt Leahy, co-owner of Liberty Tax Service, along with his father Edward Leahy, the reason they decided to collect phones was personal. Matt's sister, Jill Leahy, is engaged to Cpl. Jason Wood, who recently returned from Iraq.

"They (United States troops) are extremely appreciative of any support they can get," Matt Leahy said. "It's tough to communicate with family (while deployed overseas). You have to provide your own phone cards. They really appreciate a free phone card."

In conjunction with Wood's return, Liberty Tax Service recently held a roadside party where they collected phones, had food donated by Salerno's Pizza and gave away prizes. State Rep. Jim Meyer and VFW consultant John Mars also stopped by to show their backing for the program.

"It's really a humbling experience to provide even the smallest amount of support for these individuals who are protecting our freedom," Matt Leahy said.

Connie Ballas, owner of the consignment shop, From My Room, is always looking for ways to be involved in the community. Cell Phones for Soldiers provided a great way to do that. She also has a son-in-law who is in the Army and has twice been deployed to Iraq. She found Cell Phones for Soldiers through an Internet search and decided she wanted to get involved.

"We're always looking for ways for people to take their old things and put them to good use," Ballas said. "I thought it was a good thing to do."

Barbara Bernstein, education director of Congregation Beth Shalom, read about the program and thought it would be a good way to teach the 240 students who attend the religious school at her synagogue about giving back.

"We like the kids to think about how they can help the world," Bernstein said. "I don't want them to think that only bringing money is how they help other people."

Million-dollar program

Teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., founded Cell Phones for Soldiers with $21 of their own money. The non-profit organization has raised almost $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing videophones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families.

In addition to the Naperville businesses that serve as cell phone donation centers, there are more than 3,000 collection sites throughout the country.

"For the people who are dropping off, it makes them feel good," Matt Leahy said. "It makes us feel good. It makes the soldiers feel good to call home when they get that card."

Comment at napersun.com

A sign directs northbound drivers on Route 59 in Naperville to the "Roadside Party" for Cell Phones for Soldiers on Saturday. Liberty Tax Service, From My Room and Congregation Beth Shalom all are drop-off locations for the nonprofit that turns cell phones into phone cards for those serving in the military.Jon Cunningham / Special to The Sun