There's a new program set up in Chariton designed to help those in need. The program is called the SOS phone program and it involves the use of cell phones to help elderly people and single mothers in emergency situations. The program is run through Circle of Friends, a home health care agency in the Vredenburg Center.

The SOS phone program was started about three or four weeks ago and it's still in the beginning stages. Circle of Friends Medical Social Worker Diana Risbeck came up with the idea for the program.

The way the program works is that the community residents are asked to donate their old cell phones which are then distributed to senior citizens and single mothers in the community. The phones can be new or old and there is no cost to the donators or the recipients.

Circle of Friends Marketing and Billing Manager Jake Schroeder explained the reasoning for starting the program. "In our business, we deal mainly with the elderly and disabled and we thought they would appreciate the added security of having a cell phone when they’re out doing their daily activities," Schroeder said.

Schroeder also explained why single mothers are included in the program. "As a group single mothers sometimes get overlooked in getting help. They may be faced with an emergency situation while they have their children with them and having a cell phone could help both them and their families," Schroeder said.

Schroeder stressed that the program is a community-wide program, it's not just for Circle of Friends clients. As Schroeder pointed out, all cell phones are programmed to dial 911 whether they have a current service plan or not. As a result, old cell phones that are deemed no longer useful could still be used to help people in an emergency.

Two local businesses, U.S. Bank and Connecticut Yankee Pedaller, have volunteered to serve as cell phone drop off points for the program. There will be a phone receptacle set up at U.S. Bank in Chariton in the new few weeks and both businesses are now accepting phones by hand. People may also drop off their phones at the Circle of Friends Home Care offices.

People donating phones are supposed to leave their charger with their cell phone when they drop it off. They're also supposed to erase any personal information from their old phone.

Donated cell phones can be picked up at the Circle of Friends Home Care offices on the second floor of the Vredenburg Center. If they are out of cell phones at the time someone requests one, the person's name will be put on a waiting list and they will be phoned when one is available. When a phone is available, the person will have three days to pick it up or it'll be given to the next person the waiting list.

If people can't pick up their phones, they should try to have a family member or friend pick it up for them.