Illinois donated cellphones distributed to seniors

CHICAGO - The Cook County Sheriff's Office says more than 25,000 cellphones have been collected for senior citizens to use in emergencies.

Sheriff Tom Dart's office said Wednesday donated phones are sent to the 911 Cell Phone Bank, a Florida-based nonprofit organization that strips the phones of personal information and distributes them as emergency phones. Inactivated phones can still call 911 if the battery is charged.

The sheriff's office says the phones provide security to seniors when they are driving or away from home. People have used them to report accidents and medical emergencies.

Donated phones have been dropped off at dozens of participating libraries, senior centers and police departments throughout Cook County since 2006.

The sheriff's office Cell Phones for Seniors program takes applications from seniors who don't have cellphones.