Consider how you feel when you accidentally leave your cell phone someplace and, upon being reunited, how great it feels to finally see the calls you missed. Now, imagine if that ability to communicate with the outside world were permanently taken away.

For many victims of domestic violence, this is the reality. Abusers frequently eliminate their victims’ access to support systems and emergency assistance, or monitor communications so a victim is unable to get help or speak to friends and family.

That’s one reason Verizon Wireless is committed to supporting domestic violence awareness and prevention, and the motivation behind the creation of its national cell phone recycling and refurbishing program, HopeLine®. By pairing no longer used wireless phones with the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, we have created what is often a lifeline for victims of domestic violence.

Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless collects old cell phones, batteries and accessories in all of its stores and through a free mail-in program. Phones, including smartphones, can be in any condition, and from Verizon Wireless or any other wireless service provider. Depending on their condition, phones are either refurbished and sold for reuse or recycled in an environmentally sound way. The proceeds from the sale of the refurbished phones are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to domestic violence shelters throughout the nation, and to non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness. This means the cell phone you give to HopeLine may help someone in your own community who needs that support.

1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and law enforcement and domestic violence agencies report that a significant percent of abuse incidents go unreported. Anybody with a Verizon Wireless cell phone can dial #HOPE (#4673) and connect directly to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) – toll and airtime free.

Since 2005, Verizon Wireless has honored public safety and government agencies – for their work on behalf of victims of domestic violence and stopping abuse – with the HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award. Winners include the New Orleans Police Foundation, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, Worcester, MA Police Chief Gary Gemme and Maryland Attorney General (ret.) Joe Curran.

So what can you do to help? Donate your old wireless phones today. It’s easy. Simply go to any Verizon Wireless Communication Store nationwide and place your old phone in the HopeLine drop box or use the postage-paid mailing label: www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel

The generosity of consumers has helped fuel HopeLine’s growth. In fact, since the inception of the recycling program, HopeLine has collected more than 5.6 million cell phones, recycled more than 1.4 million cell phones in an environmentally sound way and given more than $6.3 million in cash grants.

The small gesture of donating your phone may make a big difference in the life of a domestic violence victim and also helps to keep the environment clean.