When Matt Rodman was in high school, he made himself a promise he intended to keep, even if it ended up taking him a few decades longer than expected. Today, that promise is being fulfilled through Rodman’s efforts to see that soldiers stationed overseas can talk to family and loved ones back home.
Rodman, now 48, grew up in Ashland and was a teenager when he received the Diederich Scholarship as a result of his community involvement and school activities. “The thing about the Diederich Scholarship is that when you got into the work world you were expected to give back to your community,” Rodman explained. “For the longest time, I just didn’t do that.” Rodman never forgot his commitment, which is why, now that he is in a position to give back to the community that has supported him, he does so with gusto.
Rodman first learned of the Cell Phones for Soldiers program through his work as a financial representative for Western & Southern Life. Western & Southern Life is a corporate sponsor for Cell Phones for Soldiers, the national organization that recycles donated phones and electronics and converts the donations into cell phone minutes used by U.S. troops abroad to call home. “(Western & Southern Life) pushed the program a lot each November,” Rodman said about the annual Veteran’s Day donation drive. “I thought I could do it year round.”
Rodman’s father was in the Army Reserves, so Cell Phones for Soldiers was an effort with a personal connection. Working on behalf of the troops has become Rodman’s passion. In addition to Cell Phones for Soldiers, for which he has worked for five years, Rodman also is involved in veteran’s activities with the local Elks Lodge and helps organize an annual seminar at the Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia, where vets learn about programs that could assist them.
As for Cell Phones for Soldiers, Rodman’s work at Western & Southern Life requires travel that makes it convenient for him to distribute donation boxes throughout the community (see sidebar for locations) and to empty them regularly. “I try to pick a high traffic location and place the box there,” Rodman said. The VA in Huntington is, naturally, one of the busiest locations Rodman services.
“Everything goes to a recycling center,” Rodman said of the process. “If it’s old or broken, it’s sold for scrap. If it’s up-to-date and in good working condition, they’ll turn around and sell it. The money goes to international calling cards to send to the troops.” The average donated electronic nets about $3.50, which equates to two hours of talk time.
Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts any and all types of cell phones from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred. Chargers and accessories are also welcomed. Additionally, Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts most tablets and handheld electronic devices but not larger items such as laptops or computers.
Rodman ships his donations quarterly to the Western & Southern Life Headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and estimates a local annual collection of 600-750 phones. Nationwide, Cell Phones for Soldiers has recycled more than 20 million devices. Rodman suggests donors blank their phones prior to donation but notes the recycling center will delete any found data once a phone is received.
Though donations tend to spike closest to Veteran’s Day, Rodman said the Tri-State area’s sense of patriotism keeps donation boxes full year round. The work is fulfilling for Rodman, even though he has no contact with those he’s helping thousands of miles away. Once, when he discovered a Western & Southern Life client was a veteran, Rodman took the opportunity to tell him about Cell Phones for Soldiers only to learn the man had once benefited from a similar program during his time overseas. “He had received international calling cards,” Rodman said. “He told me what an impact it had on him and the other troops. ‘Thank you for what you’re doing,’ is what he said to me,” Rodman recalled, still amazed by the memory of a veteran thanking him.
When Matt Rodman was in high school, he made himself a promise he intended to keep, even if it ended up taking him a few decades longer than expected. Today, that promise is being fulfilled through Rodman’s efforts to see that soldiers stationed overseas can talk to family and loved ones back home.
Rodman, now 48, grew up in Ashland and was a teenager when he received the Diederich Scholarship as a result of his community involvement and school activities. “The thing about the Diederich Scholarship is that when you got into the work world you were expected to give back to your community,” Rodman explained. “For the longest time, I just didn’t do that.” Rodman never forgot his commitment, which is why, now that he is in a position to give back to the community that has supported him, he does so with gusto.
Rodman first learned of the Cell Phones for Soldiers program through his work as a financial representative for Western & Southern Life. Western & Southern Life is a corporate sponsor for Cell Phones for Soldiers, the national organization that recycles donated phones and electronics and converts the donations into cell phone minutes used by US troops abroad to call home. “(Western & Southern Life) pushed the program a lot each November,” Rodman said about the annual Veteran’s Day donation drive. “I thought I could do it year round.”
Rodman’s father was in the Army Reserves, so Cell Phones for Soldiers was an effort with a personal connection. Working on behalf of the troops has become Rodman’s passion. In addition to Cell Phones for Soldiers, for which he has worked for five years, Rodman also is involved in veteran’s activities with the local Elks Lodge and helps organize an annual seminar at the Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia, where vets learn about programs that could assist them.
As for Cell Phones for Soldiers, Rodman’s work at Western & Southern Life requires travel that makes it convenient for him to distribute donation boxes throughout the community (see sidebar for locations) and to empty them regularly. “I try to pick a high traffic location and place the box there,” Rodman said. The VA in Huntington is, naturally, one of the busiest locations Rodman services.
“Everything goes to a recycling center,” Rodman said of the process. “If it’s old or broken, it’s sold for scrap. If it’s up-to-date and in good working condition, they’ll turn around and sell it. The money goes to international calling cards to send to the troops.” The average donated electronic nets about $3.50, which equates to two hours of talk time.
Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts any and all types of cell phones from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred. Chargers and accessories are also welcomed. Additionally, Cell Phones for Soldiers accepts most tablets and handheld electronic devices but not larger items such as laptops or computers.
Rodman ships his donations quarterly to the Western & Southern Life Headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and estimates a local annual collection of 600-750 phones. Nationwide, Cell Phones for Soldiers has recycled more than 20 million devices. Rodman suggests donors blank their phones prior to donation but notes the recycling center will delete any found data once a phone is received.
Though donations tend to spike closest to Veteran’s Day, Rodman said the Tri-State area’s sense of patriotism keeps donation boxes full year round. The work is fulfilling for Rodman, even though he has no contact with those he’s helping thousands of miles away. Once, when he discovered a Western & Southern Life client was a veteran, Rodman took the opportunity to tell him about Cell Phones for Soldiers only to learn the man had once benefited from a similar program during his time overseas. “He had received international calling cards,” Rodman said. “He told me what an impact it had on him and the other troops. ‘Thank you for what you’re doing,’ is what he said to me,” Rodman recalled, still amazed by the memory of a veteran thanking him.
Local Cell Phones for Soldiers Drop-off Locations
Ashland, Kentucky
Atkins Hardware
Bare Arms
Elks Lodge #350
First Stop Liquor
Moose Lodge #892
Premier Duty Gear
Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2329 Aerie
The Battery Terminal
Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Gibson Barber Shop
Boyd County Courthouse
Debbie Jones, Boyd County Clerks Office
Greenup, Kentucky
Misty’s Cuts and Curls
Amvets Post 95
Amvets Post 95 Bingo
Greenup County Library
Greenup County Courthouse
Greenup Food Fair
Ironton, Ohio
Moose Lodge #701
Huntington, West Virginia
The Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center
