Survivors of domestic abuse will benefit from a program providing free cell phones and pre-paid cards for an 11th straight year.

SaskTel’s Phones for a Fresh Start is in collaboration with the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan.

The program is funded by recycled phones, batteries and accessories which have paid for 3,500 new phones and 89-thousand dollars in pre-paid cards over the past ten years.

Domestic abuse victims often flee to one of the association’s 22 shelters with very few possessions and often don’t have phones. In many cases officials say they were denied access to phones by their partners.

They also say having access to a phone is a crucial step toward recovery and a start in taking back control of their lives.

Donations can be made at any SaskTel outlet or dropped off at rural post offices.

Financial donations can also be made to the association.