Safe Haven partners with Northland Essentia locations for phone drive

DULUTH, Minn. — Local Essentia Health employees have come together to donate their old cellphones for a good cause.

The old phones were donated to Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center in Duluth, a center for survivors of domestic abuse, where the devices can be repurposed in order to help bring safety to those in need.

“These cell phones will be used and given to clients so that they can have them in a place where it can be safe and they know where it is, and so even if their other primary phone is taken away, they still have the ability to call for help,” said Brittany Lind, Safe Haven’s community engagement coordinator.

The call for cellphone donations goes well beyond Essentia employees as well, with phones from any source welcome at Safe Haven.

“If you have a cell phone and it’s not serving you any longer, move it on,” said Jill Joyce, program accreditation manager for pharmacy with Essentia Health.

“Allow it to do somebody else some good for valuable resources, to connect people with valuable resources that are in probably the greatest need that they’d ever be in their life,” said Joyce.

Those interested in donating old cellphones can do so at Safe Haven’s building at 414 W 1st St in Duluth.