Support food banks by donating used cellular devices to Food Banks Canada's Phones for Food program
TORONTO, April 19, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Helping Canadians in need while also helping the environment is as simple as donating your no longer used cell phone or mobile device. Food Banks Canada's Phones for Food program is an easy way for individuals and businesses to support food banks while also doing something good by recycling — on Earth Day and everyday!
Phones for Food is an award winning recycling program that provides funds to the food bank community across the country while redirecting consumer waste that would otherwise be directed to a landfill. Since its launch in 2003, the Phones for Food program has generated over $750,000 for Food Banks Canada and the food bank community and diverted approximately 500,000 wireless devices from landfills. In 2010, Food Banks Canada was the recipient of Canadian Wireless Technology "Connected to Community" award for the Phones for Food program.
"This program is unique in that it provides much needed funds to support Food Banks Canada and the food bank community while also collectively reducing our environmental impact, making it a win-win situation," says Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "We are grateful for the support of Canadians who have made the effort to recycle their mobile devices and made this program a continual success."
The Phones for Food program is supported by Rogers Communications and Purolator Inc., who have been sponsors since the program launched.
Global Electric Electronic Processing Inc. (GEEP) has recently been designated the phone recycling supplier for the Phones for Food program. GEEP, a Canadian Company, is a leader in the Electronic Recycling Industry and works to divert electric and electronic waste from landfills.
Participating in the program is as simple as one, two, three:
...Individuals or businesses can drop off their used cellular devices at any Rogers or Fido branded store across Canada or mail their old cell phone in to the program via the envelope provided with the purchase of a new cell phone.
...Phones are processed by GEEP, a phone recycling supplier.
...Funds generated as a result of phone collections are donated to Food Banks Canada and the food bank community.
Make Earth Day your environmental call to action and donate all used mobile phones and handheld devices to the program.
About Phones for Food
Phones for Food is an award winning handheld collection and recycling program sponsored by Rogers Communications and Purolator Inc. which provides new resources for the alleviation of hunger. Since its launch in 2003, the Phones for Food program has generated over $750,000 for Food Banks Canada and the food bank community and diverted approximately 500,000 wireless devices from landfills. For more information on Phones for Food, visit www.phonesforfood.com. 
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada. Our members and their respective agencies serve approximately 85 per cent of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide. Our mission is to meet the short term need for food and find long-term solutions to reduce hunger. Visit www.foodbankscanada.ca for more information.
