WACO, Texas — When upgrading your old cell phone, the route most people take is to either sell it for money or give it back to their cell phone provider.
One option the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) wants more people to think about is donating these old phones to domestic violence victims and survivors.
Waco's Family Abuse Center Executive Director Whitney Thomas told 6 News the Center accepts cell phone donations for survivors to use when they're in need.
"Our victims come to shelters with nothing," Thomas explained.
The Temple Police Department also accepts old and new phones for domestic violence victims.
Temple public relations coordinator Megan Price says having a phone can do wonders for people who need to have communication with family or need to contact someone in an emergency.
"Temple PD's goal in assisting domestic violence survivors is to treat them with compassion, dignity and fairness," Price explained. "When you donate your cell phone, you are contributing to financial support for these victims as well as access to emergency contacts."
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
Price says donating phones can help lower those numbers. She also explained what people are asked to do if they decide to donate.
"We do ask anybody who's interested in donating to do a factory reset on the phone before they donate," Price said. "We accept chargers as well."
Both the Family Abuse Center and Temple PD are hosting Domestic Violence Awareness events in October.
Temple PD also provides financial and emotional crisis intervention for those who are experiencing a crisis.