Ravenswood Community Council's local neighborhood program to provide free 911-only cellphones for seniors and the disabled recently drew the attention of Visions Network, a not-for-profit agency providing life skills training and support to persons with disabilities. Visions Network operates Blare House, a residential program serving adults with autism; Reach, a program assisting persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness to live in the community; and HIRE, coordinated efforts to open doors to employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Visions Network is located in Des Plaines, well outside the Ravenswood community.
The Visions Network operates a small fleet of vans to transport their clients, and they needed an affordable means for drivers to contact 911 emergency services if needed. Friends of the organization alerted Vision's management to RCC's free CELLphones. CELLphones (Community Emergency Life Line phones) are used cellular telephones donated to RCC by local individuals, companies and institutions for redistribution to people who need to reach emergency assistance.
They are not activated on a cellular service; however, all cellphones are required under federal law to be able to reach 911 even when not activated. With no cost for equipment or usage, RCC's CELLphones fit Vision's need. RCC prepared a set of 14 phones and chargers for the agency. They were picked up by Visions staff March 27.
"Our contact by Visions Network about the CELLphone program came as quite a surprise—but it's a good match even though we serve different areas," said RCC Executive Director Dick Hankett. "We both have concerns for the disabled and helping them to have a better life. We are both community-based organizations.
"And it's appropriate for RCC to support Visions Network out in Des Plaines since the Des Plaines Fire Department donated cell phones to us—and our best supplier of used cell phones has been Lutheran General Hospital out in Park Ridge. The CELLphones program, though focused in Ravenswood, has been supported by caring people and corporations across the area without regard to municipal boundaries."
Anyone interested in supporting the CELLphones program can drop off used phones at several locations: at RCC's office at 2348 W. Irving Park Rd., #106; at Ald. Gene Schulter's (47th) office at 4237 N. Lincoln Ave.; at state Rep. Larry McKeon's office at 1967 W. Montrose Ave.; or at Queen of Angels parish office, 4412 N. Western Ave. Anyone in need of a CELLphone can contact RCC at (773) 583-1600.
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