PROVIDENCE – After a monthlong cellphone-recycling drive held by the R.I. Office of Attorney General, Verizon Wireless made a $2,000 HopeLine contribution to the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The funding will provide financial assistance to local nonprofit organizations focused on supporting victims of domestic violence.

Verizon said that cellphones are an effective tool in the fight against domestic violence. Instead of being discarded, an old phone can be refurbished and put to good use against domestic abuse by being reprogrammed and used as 911 emergency phones for individuals at risk.

HopeLine, a Verizon Wireless phone-recycling program, supports domestic-violence coalitions throughout the country, including the coalition. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and sold for reuse, generating proceeds for the program. Refurbished phones – complete with 3,000 minutes of wireless service – are provided to local organizations, government and law enforcement agencies. •