When is a cell phone not just a piece of equipment to talk to friends and family — when it’s a lifesaver for many seniors in the community.
Last week Lake Orion’s Chief of Police Jerry Narsh left over 100 cell phones at the Orion Senior Center. His goal is to make sure every senior in the area receives one.
Users of the phones will only be able to punch in the emergency code 911.
“There’s a little known regulation that mandates all cell phones be able to call 911 whether you have service or not,” Narsh said. “So’s there no cost to operate it and you’ll be able to use it anywhere.”
The drive to have donations of unused cell phones dropped off at the police department began in October. Narsh said the phones are still coming in.
Two businesses in Lake Orion, Discount Video and All Star Video, donated work hours to make phones usable if they weren’t. The first 30 seniors that picked up cell phones at the Orion Senior Center were to receive two free hours of regular phone service courtesy of Discount Video.
“Our hope is to have every senior get one, but never has to use one,” Narsh said. “If you think you’re a senior come on down. We have plenty.”
He started the program because he sees it as a safety advantage for seniors, especially when they travel.
Although providing seniors with these phones is the police department’s primary focus, Narsh’s long range plans are to give them to anyone who has need of one — single parents, people who can’t afford one, etc.
The senior center on Church Street in the village is acting as a distribution center for the cell phones. It’s open during regular business hours.