SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Wireless Music Center teamed up to collect no longer used wireless equipment.

Music fans are urged to donate their old phones and accessories in support of domestic violence awareness and prevention at the Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls concert Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Verizon Wireless Music Center. Representatives will be onsite collecting the no-longer-used phones at the VIP and main entrance gates.

Since 2001, consumers have donated 3 million phones to HopeLine and more than 600,000 of those phones have been recycled in an environmentally sound manner. Verizon Wireless has distributed more than $10 million in cash grants and wireless service to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs across the country.

All wireless phone models, batteries and chargers from any carrier are accepted. For store locations and additional information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

Heather Story, general manager of Verizon Wireless Music Center, said, &8220;The Verizon Wireless Music Center is honored to work with Verizon Wireless on behalf of the HopeLine phone drive and its mission to prevent domestic abuse. We are proud to be part of this community and will continue to do all we can to support projects like HopeLine in Birmingham and its surrounding communities.&8221;