Do you have an old smartphone collecting dust in a drawer? Transform your forgotten tech into a tool of connection and care!
The Call Back Project is a community-led initiative to give Prince Edward County residents in need access to one of the most important tools for connecting to job opportunities, housing, health care, and loved ones.
Through the collection of donated smartphones, residents experiencing financial hardship will be reconnected with the digital tools they need to access housing, employment, health care and loved ones. Led by the Poverty Reduction Action Team of the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, this initiative reflects long-standing County values of care, dignity, and connection.
The municipality is now accepting gently used smartphones from residents (all user data will be removed) to redistribute them to community members who do not have access to mobile technology. Each phone will be paired with a prepaid SIM card to support communication, access to services, job searches, and social connection.
Donation Guidelines:
To donate, used smartphones must meet the following requirements:
- Fully working: Powers on, charges, and can make calls and texts.
- Screen: No major cracks and the touchscreen must work.
- Battery: Holds a charge for several hours.
- Unlocked: Must be carrier-unlocked or compatible with major networks.
- Factory reset: All personal data and accounts must be wiped. Click here for a guide on how to reset your phone.
- Accessories (optional): Chargers and cases are welcome if in good condition.
- Device Age: Phones that can still receive updates from the manufacturer (typically for up to seven years after release) are preferred to help keep the recipients’ personal information as secure as possible.
Phones that are broken, locked, reported lost/stolen or unsafe to use will not be accepted.
All donated phones will be wiped, unlocked, tested, and repaired as needed to ensure they are safe and functional. Phones that cannot be redistributed will be properly disposed of at municipal e-waste sites.
Donations will be accepted at the following locations:
- South Marysburgh Landfill (1132 Old Milford Road) Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm
- Sophiasburgh Transfer Station (35 County Road 14) Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm
- All Prince Edward County Library locations during regular operating hours.
- Shire Hall (332 Picton Main Street) Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm
The project is a direct outcome of the April 2025 Community Conversations on Poverty Reduction coordinated through the municipal Community Safety and Well-being Plan. The Call Back Project reflects the community’s desire for practical and inclusive solutions that help people in simple and meaningful ways.
The Call Back Project’s name speaks to both the literal act of being able to “call back” to reach a job opportunity, a service provider, or a loved one, and the community’s call back to those in need, responding with care and solidarity. This project empowers residents to reconnect and rebuild while signaling that no one should be left without a lifeline in Prince Edward County.
The municipality will work with trusted local agencies to identify and distribute the phones to residents who lack access to mobile communication due to financial hardship or systemic barriers. Some of these agencies include Prince Edward Learning Centre, Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services, Alternatives for Women, and theROC Youth Services.
The deadline to donate is December 6, 2025.
We recommend performing a factory reset and using a secure data wiping method to ensure all personal information is permanently removed. However, by electing to donate a used smartphone to the County to support the Call Back Project, you agree that you are solely responsible for removing all personal data from any electronic devices you donate. By donating, you agree that the County is not responsible for the loss or misuse of any data, or for any privacy breach that may occur if data is not properly erased, and you agree to release the County from any liability related to the contents of the donated device or the handling of your personal information. If you do not agree, do not continue the donation.
For more information about The Call Back Project or to be added to the CSWB community mailing list, please contact Kiydan Zachariah, Programs and Services Assistant, at kzachariah@pecounty.on.ca or call/text 613.921.6259.