Donated Cell Phone Might Save a Life

A citywide effort to fight domestic violence has collected 2,000 cellular phones to be reprogrammed to dial emergency numbers and then distributed to crime victims and organizations.

Susan Colleran, a Loyola Law School student, started the phone collecting this spring after learning about the “Call to Protect” program, a partnership between the Wireless Foundation, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Motorola.

Since 1996, donors nationwide have contributed more than 17,000 phones, which are programmed to dial 911 and usually one of two numbers, such as a domestic violence shelter. Free emergency air time is donated by members of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Assn.

“The effect is that [the phone] can actually save a woman’s life instead of sitting in a drawer,” said Colleran, of Manhattan Beach.

All brands of cell phones are accepted, regardless of their working condition. Because it takes 75 cents to $1 per phone to send them to Motorola in Michigan, Colleran is seeking donations to cover shipping expenses.

People may donate phones at:

* Los Angeles city attorney’s office, 14410 Sylvan St. Room 106, Van Nuys.

* All Valley Cleaners, 6007 Fallbrook Ave., Woodland Hills.

* Los Angeles Superior Court, 111 N. Hill St., Department 8, Room 245, Los Angeles.

* Pasadena Superior Court, 300 E. Walnut St., Room 100-B.

* Los Angeles Superior Court, West Division, 1725 Main St., Room 121, Santa Monica.

* Los Angeles County Bar Assn., 261 S. Figueroa St., Suite 300, Los Angeles.

* Security office of the parking garage at Loyola Law School, 919 S. Albany St., Los Angeles.