A call to action

It will be easier for soldiers stationed abroad to get in touch with their loved ones back home thanks to everyone who donated cell phones to the cause.

In less than one year, 10 Dignity Memorial locations in Ventura and Los Angeles counties collected enough cell phones and accessories to provide nearly 90,000 minutes of call time to men and women in the armed services. Cell Phones for Soldiers collection centers will remain open to continue their efforts to ensure loved ones can stay in touch with deployed forces throughout the world.

“We are honored to have had such amazing success with this program and extremely grateful to the communities we serve who are supporting this effort,” said James Biby, market director of the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers in Los Angeles.

“As we approach the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to give our service men and women the means to stay in touch with their families, who cherish every single call home.”

The locations are asking employees, businesses and residents in L.A. and Ventura counties to donate their unwanted, gently used cell phones to the cause. Cell Phones for Soldiers will recycle the phones and use the proceeds to provide pre-paid calling cards and cell phones to troops serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Culver City cell phone donation location is at Gates, Kingsley & Gates Smith Salsbury Funeral Directors, 4220 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

For more information, call (310) 837-7121or go to gateskingsley.com.