SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD — A local coalition of senior citizens and law enforcement seeks to offer lifelines in Clark County by providing cell phones to call 911 to the elderly and abuse victims.

Clark County Triad Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) Council presented 24 cell phones to Project Woman, a local violence and abuse prevention program, and four more phones to elderly area residents.

SALT Council Chairman Bill Salyers said the coalition wants to avoid situations like the one where two elderly women were found dead in Kentucky, six months after they left a Lebanon retirement facility to go shopping.

"Those women did not have cell phones," Salyers said.

With the cell phones that SALT has been collecting since enrolling in the nationwide 911 Cell Phone Bank, seniors can feel safer in and outside their homes and abuse victims will not feel so isolated, Salyers said.

Maxine Miller, 80, one of Thursday's recipients, said having the phone will make her children feel more at ease.

"It's for protection," she said.

Miller applied for the phone about two months ago and was "really amazed" when she received word that she got it.

Ray and Eileen Gorby, who each got a phone, said it makes them feel safer.

"I think it's great," said Eileen, 85, as 89-year-old Ray nodded.

The phones have no phone number and cannot make or receive calls to regular numbers. It can only dial 911. Recipients of the phone also get an extra battery and a charger.

Salyers encourages people to continue to donate old cell phones and their accessories to Elderly United, 101 S. Fountain Ave. or call (937) 323-4948 for more information.

"If nothing else, we'll recycle them," Salyers said. "But if we can use them, we'll put them to work for Clark County."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.