Helping Soldiers Phone Home

Iraq may be half a world away for soldiers and their families, but a new foundation is making it easier for them to stay in touch. Inspired by the story of a soldier who ended up with over $7,000 in cellphone bills from calling his family in the States, Brittany and Robbie Berquist founded Cellphones for Soldiers, providing soldiers with recycled mobile phones and prepaid phone cards, a step up from the days when soldiers would stockpile quarters and dimes like a precious commodity. The nonprofit has given out 400,000 calling cards over the past five years and $1 million worth of donated cellphones, along with BlackBerries, chargers, and batteries.