ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- It's a true trash-to-treasure story coming out of St. Johns County. The sheriff's office found a way to help victims of crimes - but they need your help to do it.
Broken. Beat up. Some even battery-less. You likely have an old cell phone stuffed in a drawer at your home. And the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office wants it.
"The cell phones are sent off to a third party company who gives us a little back for the cell phones themselves based on the technology the type of phone and that profit or proceed, if you will, comes directly to our victim advocate fund," said Corporal Catherine Payne.
The newer the phone, the more money the sheriff's office will get back. But every penny adds up. All of it goes to help crime victims in a way the sheriff's office never thought it could.
"It's really great for our community and especially victims of crimes because there are often times that we don't have the funds available to assist somebody," she said.
"I pay it forward. That's what I do since I retired. I think that's an extra special thing to do," said Oscar Leathers.
It's a program Leathers had no idea existed. He has several old phones he now plans to donate.
"What do you do with old cell phones you put them in the landfill, wouldn't that be bad? I think if someone else can use them they should," he said.
The sheriff's office says so far it has able to give back more than $4,400 to victims who need it.
"You never know, one day your family member or friend may be a victim of a crime and we'll be able to as an agency support them and provide funds for whatever situation they may be in," Payne said.
The sheriff's office goes door to door several times a year to collect any old phones you may have. Or you can drop them off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. any day of the week.
The sheriff's office also has a prescription drop-off program. It's called Operation Medicine Cabinet and is designed to help keep drugs off the streets.
On Tuesday, the office received a sizable donation from two women in the community. They'll take any old, outdated or unused prescription you might have.
