The NVCC Alumni Federation is partnering with Verizon Wireless this year to help end domestic violence. HopeLine® from Verizon Wireless helps support victims and survivors of domestic violence while ensuring that phones are reused or recycled in an environmentally responsible way. Anyone can donate no-longer-used phones (from any provider), batteries and accessories to HopeLine; Verizon then uses the proceeds from these donations to provide cash grants to domestic violence organizations across the United States.

“One in four women, one in nine men and more than 3 million children in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence,” says Cameka Crawford, manager of community relations and multicultural communications at Verizon Wireless. “The HopeLine program is an opportunity for customers to help Verizon and nonprofit organizations break the cycle of violence in the United States.” HopeLine supports programs available to victims (those still in contact with their batterer) and survivors (those who have left their batterer and are now in a safe space).

Cell phones into cash grants
HopeLine funds support many different domestic violence programs. Verizon Wireless gives cash grants to local domestic violence organizations and technology programs that educate organizations and victims on the importance of using technology wisely and safely.

“One of our key partners that we fund through HopeLine, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, provides 24-hour support to anyone affected by domestic violence, including victims, their friends and their family,” says Crawford. “And customers can quickly and confidentially get access to these services by dialing #HOPE (#4673) from any phone on the Verizon Wireless network.”

A lifeline for victims
Verizon Wireless provides phones with 3,000 minutes to domestic violence organizations, which then pass the phones out to victims or survivors in need. A HopeLine phone gives victims a lifeline to the outside world and their family members—beyond the control of the abuser. For those who have escaped their abusive situation, a HopeLine phone keeps them connected to their families, to law enforcement, to their employers, to medical care and to their children’s schools.

How you can help

Since HopeLine became a national recycling program in 2001, it has collected more than 9 million phones, granted more than $14.2 million in cash to organizations across the country and provided more than 123,000 phones for use by domestic violence victims. But there’s still work to be done. From December 2^nd through December 20^th, donate your old phones, batteries and accessories, and drop them off at a collection box located at the following NOVA locations:

Annandale Campus Counseling office – CA Building and the Annandale campus Library

Medical Education Campus Student Life office, Suite 140 and the Student Services office, Room 202

Woodbridge Campus, WC Building, 2^nd Floor, Information Desk and WC Building, first floor, Student Activities office

NVCC Educational Foundation Office, Pitney Bowes Building (NW), Suite 817

NVCC Offices at Pender 2, Suite 150

Donations are also welcome throughout the year. Here are two options:

• Print a postage-paid label online and adhere it to your shipping box. Be sure to review shipping instructions carefully and include a return address on the label before you mail it.
• Use the HopeLine app to locate the nearest Verizon Wireless store and drop off your phone.