POTSDAM – Sergi’s Italian Restaurant, 10 Market St. in Potsdam is once again participating in the annual Cell Phones For Soldiers collection drive.

For every donated phone valued at $5 or more, Cell Phones For Soldiers is able to provide 2 ½ hours of free calling card talk time to deployed troops.

All proceeds from the recycled devices will be used to buy long distance calling cards for troops at home and abroad. As many as 200,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military around the world and by donating to Cell Phones For Soldiers, local residents and businesses can provide a valuable lifeline for America’s bravest men and women to connect with loved ones back home.

This is the fourth year that the drive has taken place. Last year’s effort collected approximately 1,690 gently used cell phones and mobile devices. In 2016, the drive garnered 933 phones and devices, while 450 were collected in 2015.

The collection drive runs through Thursday, Dec. 13.

The public and businesses can drop off gently used and unwanted cell phones and tablets at Sergi’s.

Also participating are state Sen. Joe Griffo (R-Rome), AT&T, and the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center.