Vancity supports holiday drive collecting used cell phones for seniors in the Downtown Eastside

For immediate release -- December 2, 2013

Vancouver, B.C. - Portland Hotel Society launched a holiday drive to collect used cell phones for low-income seniors living in the Downtown Eastside so they can have easy access to 911. As a partner in this program, we’re asking members to donate their old chargers and cell phones (without the SIM card).

A recent survey conducted by Portland Hotel Society found that 20 per cent of residents in the Downtown Eastside are seniors, many of whom do not have landlines or a cell phone. However, cell phones can still make emergency calls to 911 even without the SIM card that contains account, personal information and contacts.

You can drop-off your used cell phones and chargers until Saturday December 21st at seven Vancity branches in the downtown area:

• Hastings Street Branch- 2510 East Hastings
• Downtown Branch - 898 West Pender
• Vancity Centre Branch - 183 Terminal Avenue
• Main Street Branch - 4205 Main Street
• Chinatown Branch - 188 East Pender
• Fraser Street Branch - 6288 Fraser Street
• West End Branch - 1798 Robson Street

Community partner Free Geek will wipe all donated cell phones so there’s no risk of phones distributed with stored personal information.