20 Years of Empowering Victims: 6 Lessons in 5 Minutes

Since 2004, the 911 Cell Phone Bank has been on a mission to provide secure, emergency communication to those who need it most—victims of abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other vulnerable individuals. Over the past 20 years, we’ve worked with law enforcement agencies, victim service organizations, and countless businesses across the country to collect, wipe, and repurpose unused and unclaimed (lost-and-found) phones and other electronic devices.

In honor of our two decades of service, here are 6 powerful lessons we’ve learned—delivered in 5 minutes or less.

1. A Phone Can Be a Lifeline

We’ve heard it time and again: having access to a phone in a crisis can mean the difference between life and death. Whether it’s calling 911, a shelter, or a trusted contact, emergency communication gives victims the chance to escape and find help—on their terms.

2. Lost and Found Can Provide Solutions

Hotels, stadiums, casinos, airports, restaurants, schools—you name it. These places accumulate thousands of unclaimed phones and devices every year. What many don’t realize is that these forgotten electronics can be securely repurposed to help someone in danger. Don’t toss them. Phone them forward.

3. Security and Trust Are Everything

Data privacy is non-negotiable. Every device we receive goes through a strict data wipe process or is responsibly recycled if it cannot be sanitized. Our donors, partners, and recipients trust us because we protect both digital and human lives.

4. One-Time Giving Sparks Ongoing Impact

Some of our longest-lasting partnerships began with a single donation. A box of phones from a convention center. A storage room clean-out at a corporate office. Purged electronics from property-and-evidence/law enforcement. It only takes one moment of action to start a cycle of life-saving communication for survivors across the country.

5. Awareness Creates Action

Most people want to help—they just don’t know how. By spreading the word, sharing survivor stories, and showing what happens to donated devices, we empower others to take that first step. Every device has a story waiting to be rewritten.

6. Reuse Is Better Than Waste

Donating used phones isn’t just life-saving—it’s planet-saving. Every device repurposed through our program helps reduce electronic waste and conserves valuable natural resources. Rather than sitting in a landfill or collecting dust, that old phone becomes part of a sustainable solution—one that supports both people and the planet.

As we look forward to the future, we’re more committed than ever to our mission. Whether you’re a business with a full lost and found, a law enforcement agency managing property rooms, or someone with an old phone in a drawer—we invite you to Phone It Forward and become part of the solution.

📱🌎♻️ Donate. Empower. Save a Life. Protect the Planet.

More like this:

The Hidden Dangers of Selling Unclaimed Lost and Found Items
The 5 Most Common Lost & Found Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Property & Evidence: Why Your Disposal Method of Electronic Devices Matters