Elgin business has a two-fer on charity

Though Liberty Tax Service has only been open in Elgin about a month, the local branch already is full swing into community spirit.

The company held a dual fundraiser Saturday to collect used cell phones that will be turned into calling cards for soldiers and to raise money to improve the health of babies.

Liberty collected cell phones, as well as used ink cartridges and iPods, as part of the Cell Phones for Soldiers campaign.

The used wares are melted, and the materials are used to make calling cards for service members.

Only about a half-dozen cell phones and ink cartridges were collected Saturday, but in the past month, Liberty Tax Service has collected about 22 cell phones and cases of used ink cartridges.

"These soldiers are down there protecting our borders and us, and we wanted to help make the situation better for them while they are away from their loved ones and families," said Tamika Morales, who owns Liberty.

Since partnering with Cell Phones for Soldiers in 2004, Liberty Tax Service, a national franchise, has provided troops more than 12 million minutes of calling time.

Members of the Elgin National Guard were on hand Saturday to show off a Humvee, cannon and mobile recruiting station.

"We are out here to support the community," said Sgt. 1st Class Terry O'Neill. "March of Dimes is a really great organization and Cell Phones for Soldiers is a phenomenal program because it gets phone cards into the hands of soldiers who really need them."

Participants also had the opportunity to showcase their dance moves.

A new national program for the March of Dimes Foundation is Dance for a Baby.

Participants are videotaped and their dance footage is entered into a contest on YouTube.

The National Guard troop and about a dozen teens danced to Soulja Boy's "Crank That (Soulja Boy)."