BUSINESSES are being urged to keep their old phones and donate them to a good cause.
A used-phone campaign is being highlighted across the region’s libraries, offering an essential lifeline for people fleeing domestic violence.
DV Safe Phone is a not-for-profit organisation supporting individuals affected by domestic violence, who quite often leave in a hurry and have no access to a potentially life-saving communication device.
As part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Whitsunday Regional Libraries wanted to raise awareness of DV Safe Phone and council’s ongoing partnership with the charity.
The collaboration aims to encourage the community to contribute their old functioning mobile phones to DV Safe, which collects, repairs, and gives them free to front-line services, as a safe phone for people in domestic violence situations.
Mayor Ry Collins said it was not uncommon for people to have old mobile phones tucked away at home.
“By contributing them to one of the collection boxes at our regional libraries, you are potentially giving a vital opportunity to people in very traumatic circumstances,” he said.
“Part of council’s role is to promote healthy and safe environments for our community to live in, and we are well placed to promote this initiative through our public spaces, such as our regional libraries.
“We’ve had collection points in our libraries for approximately 12 months now and we want the community to know that we can all make a meaningful difference to people in need, through the simple act of a donation.”
DV Safe Phone founder and CEO Ashton Wood expressed appreciation for the partnership, emphasising the pivotal role of community engagement in addressing domestic violence.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Whitsunday Regional Libraries for their invaluable support,” Mr Wood said.
“Their unwavering commitment to raising awareness and collecting phones for our charity will significantly bolster our efforts in reaching more domestic violence survivors and equipping them with essential communication tools.”
Phone drop-off points are currently located at all Whitsunday Regional Libraries in Cannonvale, Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville.
With a goal of supporting 20,000 lives by 2026, DV Safe Phone remains dedicated to expanding its reach and impact and is also addressing the issue of e-waste.
For more information visit DV Safe Phone’s website.
Pictured at Cannonvale Library, on Friday, May 17, 2024, are Cr Jan Clifford, Mayor Collins, Cr Clay Bauman and DV Safe Phone’s community and corporate partnerships manager Nikki Firmin.
