Help for Child Crime Victims Thanks to Cell Phone Stores

This Verizon Wireless retailer in Wyoming and another in Mountain Top are collecting everything from toys to cleaning supplies for the site that's under the direction of the Luzerne County District Attorney's office. The idea for these two retailers to help with the Child Advocacy Center drive started at the Wyoming location in a conversation between staff and a customer. That Verizon customer worked for the Child Advocacy Center. "She thought that was a great idea and she really appreciates it and you know we've done our best here to make it happen for them," said Mr Beckmann.

The toys collected so far include a paddleball, an activity book and a coloring kit -- little things that make a big difference in putting a traumatized child victim at ease. "My detectives and law enforcement come together with other services and we interview the child and make sure the child feels comfortable when they come forward and tell their story," said Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis. They are stories that Verizon customer Carl Mugford of Swoyersville finds disturbing. "That scares the heck out of me when I read things like that in the paper and they're in the paper every day." Now that he is aware of the collection drive, he wants to do his part. "I'll tell my neighbors and I'll see what I can come up with," said Mr. Mugford.