Senior helps raise funds

Walking around campus, it's inevitable to pass at least a handful of students chattering away on their cell phones. Now Monroe County United Ministries, with the help of School of Public and Environmental Affairs student Sara Hinkle are cashing in on the prevalence of cell phones on campus.\n"It's an idea we had been working on and then Sara came in needing a project," said Rebecca Stanze, MCUM development coordinator. \nHinkle's nonprofit management class for SPEA required she pair up with a nonprofit organization in the Bloomington area, find out about the organization and help them out however possible. \nMCUM is a nonprofit organization that provides subsidized childcare for low income families and financial assistance if a family is in danger of being evicted or having its utilities shut off.\nBoxes have been placed around campus to encourage people to drop off their used cell phones. The donated phones will then be sold to a company, which recycles the old phones to sell back to the original manufacturers. MCUM is then paid between 50 cents and $30 per phone.\n"I talked to Rebecca and she wanted to do the cell phone drive," Hinkle said. "They had a drive earlier, but it didn't have a kick. They brought us in to add a push to it. \n"MCUM is a great organization to donate to because they do a lot in and around Bloomington. This drive gives students a chance to get involved in the community."\nIn preparation for the drive, Hinkle asked local businesses to place a box outside and said she received a very positive response from the community. \n"I thought it was impressive how willing businesses and organizations were to put up a box," Hinkle said. "I didn't get any rejections."\nCell phones of any model and age will bring in some amount of profit to MCUM. Batteries will also be accepted; however, accessories such as phone chargers are not needed. \n"Students have cell phones and are upgrading regularly. It makes sense to put the old phones to good use," Stanze said. "We're trying to prevent waste and give back to the community."\nThe drive will take place Nov. 14-18 and has the theme "Answer the Call." While some boxes will be removed at the end of the week, some locations will be permanent. Some of the drop-off locations include T.I.S. bookstore, MCUM, Opportunity House, the IU Student Assocation office and several local churches and sorority houses. \nFor more information about MCUM or the cell phone drive, contact Stanze at (812) 339-3429 or visit their Web site at www.bloomington.in.us/~mcum.