Every day there are thousands of cell phones lost, discarded, or abandoned.
Every one of them can potentially save a life – and 911 Cell Phone Bank Director James Mosieur says casino operators are one of the best sources of cell phones for the non-profit organization. Harrah’s Laughlin Casino Hotel in Nevada, the MGM Grand and Tropicana in Las Vegas, and Seminole Hard Rock properties in Florida are among the approximately 60 casinos participating in the program.
A few years ago, a domestic abuse victim in Las Vegas was threatened by her abuser. The man promised to kill her when he was released from jail. Through the Las Vegas Police Department and 911 Cell Phone Bank, the woman was given an emergency cell phone to use in case of danger.
When released from jail, the man cut the woman’s landline and tried to kick in the victim’s door.
“He didn’t know she had the emergency phone,” says Mosieur. “She was able to dial 911, so the phone quite literally saved her life.”
Founded in 2004 and based in Ocala, Florida, the 911 Cell Phone Bank assists victims of abuse, including human trafficking, by donating cellphones and sometimes airtime. The program is designed to help those who have no other means of communication.
Since its inception in 2004, the 911 Cell Phone Bank has provided cellphone and other devices to more than 150,000 vulnerable victims of abuse. The organization also has donated tablets to women’s shelters, laptops to law enforcement, and smartphones to high school teachers for use in app development courses.
According to Victim Services Outreach Coordinator Paula Hlade of the Reno (Nevada) Police Department Victim Services Unit, the 911 Cell Phone Bank has met a great need in that community.
“Often victims of violent crime do not have phones at all due to the control and abuse, or the suspects take and/or break the phone to prevent calling 911,” Hlade said via email, “There are also cases where the phones are needed for evidentiary purposes and the victim has no way to contact others. Having phones from 911 Cell Phone Bank on hand to give to a victim during these situations is invaluable. Victims are able to have a lifeline during times of violence as well as maintain connection to investigators, advocates, the court and other safety resources.”
Mosieur says that the organization has received phones connected to bank accounts and other personal information, notably including a phone with a spreadsheet holding passwords to numerous accounts. He guarantees that all data is cleared from the cellphones using state-of-the-art clearing software before distribution to law enforcement agencies and other groups.
And even if a cellphone is not connected to a provider, it still can be of use.
“The cell phone industry has done a very good job at letting everyone know that even unactivated devices can dial 911,” Mosieur says.
Tami Dials, a risk management specialist for Harrah’s Laughlin, said a few years ago the property had a plethora of cellphones lost or left behind by patrons. After receiving approval, she now sends out a medium box packed with cellphones to the 911 Cell Phone Bank every four-to-six months.
Dials estimates Harrah’s Laughlin has donated approximately 3,000 cellphones over five years.
“Harrah’s Laughlin is proud to be of assistance with such a valuable program that helps communities all over our country with cell phones for those that are in need,” Dials said via email.
Since June 2021, the Reno Police Department has distributed about 50 phones, with access to 911 or with additional service, to crime victims.
“One of the added benefits to this program is we are able to recycle unclaimed phones from Evidence at our agency and the local jail and send them to 911 Cell Phone Bank to refurbish and send to others,” Hlade says.
To date, the Reno PD has sent about 250 phones to the organization, which also accepts donations of from individuals and other groups.
To arrange for donations, go to https://www.911cellphonebank.org/donate-2/
In addition to cellphones, the 911 Cell Phone Bank also accepts:
- Laptop computers
- Tablets
- Cameras
- Digital media players, including DVD, and cd players, and voice recorders
- Portable video game systems
- Smart watches
- Memory storage devices, including SD cards and external memory storage devices
- Chargers, headsets, earphones, and rechargeable batteries
- Desktop printers
