Kiwanis donates phones to COBRA

Jim Mitchell, Kiwanis Club of Sisters and Pat Cohen, COBRA. photo provided The Kiwanis Club of Sisters recently donated close to 200 out-of-service cell phones to COBRA (Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance).

Pat Cohen, COBRA's Development Director, said some of the phones will be distributed to clients to be used to call 911 in an emergency. The remainder will be sold to refurbishers to raise funds for COBRA's programs. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements state that all cell phones shall be able to dial 911.

Many victims of domestic violence either do not have a telephone or have no way to get help away from their home telephone. In some cases the donated cell phone becomes their only safety outlet.

Sisters Kiwanis started this program three years ago, donating 100 cell phones to the Victims of Abuse Program of Deschutes County. At the time it was felt that the supply of unused cell phones in the area had been exhausted. However, nobody informed the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store.

They continued to save donated cell phones and called a Kiwanis member for pickup each time the box became full. The collection continued to grow until Pat Cohen, Development Director for COBRA, mentioned their cell phone collection program at a Kiwanis meeting.

So the collection was dusted off and donated to COBRA.

COBRA's primary purpose is to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and to provide community education on how to break the cycle of violence. Services include a 24-hour Crisis Hotline, crisis counseling, self-help materials, support groups, and youth safety programs for schools. COBRA can be contacted at 382-9227 and maintains a 24-hour Hotline at 389-7021.

Phones can be left at the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store, Kiwanis House, or call 549-1223.