Your old, unused cell phone can help victims of violence in Pueblo. Here's how

ACOVA (A Community Organization for Victim Assistance) is partnering with 911 Cell Phone Bank in Pueblo to collect cell phones and other electronic devices that will be repurposed and used to help victims of violence, according to a recent news release from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.

Items accepted during the drive include cell phones and certain other electronics, in any condition and of any age. ACOVA Director Kimberly Tate-Graen told the Chieftain the emergency phones collected through the drive and later distributed to ACOVA clients provide an important lifeline to victims.

"When these victims lose their ability to contact someone, they're kind of stranded," Tate-Graen said. "So just being able to reach out for 911 or even be able to contact resources — many times they may have been robbed, carjacked, any of those things; they've lost all accessibility — it's important to be able to reach out and get the help they need."

Other electronic devices collected will be refurbished or used for parts, depending on the condition. The refurbished items are sold and proceeds go to the 911 Cell Phone Bank to purchase emergency phones for distribution to victims of violence.

Emergency phones are provided for free to any victim of violence — including but not limited to domestic violence and human trafficking — who does not have access to a phone and may need to contact 911, Tate-Graen said.

"We do have some of them we can get signed on for Wi-Fi, with service for about 60 days, but not all of our phones have that," she said. "We also have some laptops we try to provide in case someone needs to apply for services or things like that."

While unable to provide an exact number of devices collected, Tate-Graen stated that last year's drive was very successful. She hopes this year's drive will be too.

While this is the only major phone drive planned for the year, ACOVA will accept devices year-round if donated, she said.

Tate-Graen estimated that the organization's volunteers give out at least 50 phones per year.

The 911 Cell Phone Bank will clear all data from the devices before they are donated to ACOVA, according to the PCSO release.

The 911 Cell Phone Bank guarantees the secure erasure of devices. Cell phones and other devices that are unusable or can't be cleared of all user data will be recycled, with their parts used for other devices.

The following electronic items are accepted:

• Cell phones, smartphones, and Blackberrys from all carriers and manufacturers
• Laptop computers
• Tablets
• Cameras
• Digital media players such as MP3, DVD and CD players, voice recorders
• Portable video game systems
• Smartwatches
• Memory storage devices such as SD cards and external memory storage devices
• Electronic accessories such as chargers, headsets, earphones and rechargeable batteries
• Desktop printers
• Pin Pad devices

Items will be collected from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from April 22 through May 3at the following locations: The Pueblo County jail lobby at 909 Court Street; the Pueblo County Sheriff’sOffice Pueblo West Substation at 320 Joe Martinez Blvd.; the Pueblo County Sheriff’s annex at 920 N.Main Street, and the Pueblo Police Department lobby at 200 S. Main St.

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