Following the lead of two teens from Massachusetts,LSUPD’s Local 29th Union wants to help soldiers send their”love down to Baton Rouge.”
Locally dubbed “Operation Callin’ BatonRouge,” the nationwide drive aims to collect 25,000 old cellphones to be redeemed for cash that will be used to purchasepre-paid calling cards for soldiers who are overseas.
LSUPD Officer Keith Swetlik, who initiated the program in BatonRouge, formally began the program Monday morning with a pressconference on the Parade Ground and invited the program’screators — 12-year-old Robbie Bergquist and his sister,13-year-old Brittany.
Robbie Bergquist said he and his sister have a cousin fightingin Iraq who was the motivation for the cell phone drive.
“He thinks it’s really cool,” BrittanyBergquist said.
After their trip to Baton Rouge, Robbie Bergquist said he andhis father are going to Fresno, Calif. and are supposed to meetCalifornia Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“And when I leave, I’m going to tell him,‘I’ll be back,'” Robbie Bergquist said.
Keith Cranford, Louisiana National Guard company commander ofthe 239th military police, said it is important for soldiers to beable to call home once a week and make sure everything is fine sothey can focus on their military missions.
Cranford also said he has never seen children theBergquists’ age create a program of this capacity.
“I kind of got a little teary eyed,” Cranfordsaid.
Swetlik said people with old, working or non-working cell phonescan drop them off in orange buckets on campus at LSUPD, the Union,the Recreational Sports Complex, the School of Veterinary Medicine,the Law Center, CEBA, Middleton Library, the Visitors Center, theLaboratory School and the Office of Greek Affairs.
Swetlik said “Operation Callin’ Baton Rouge”also will accept monetary donations from those that do not have oldcell phones.
Campus Federal Credit Union presented Swetlik and fellow officerBen Conner with the campaign’s first donation today for$1,000.