Attention students: to get the degree, you might have to give back.

In most area school districts, there are community service requirements for graduation, and while there is no shortage of people or organizations in need, students can be faced with time constraints and therefore searching for a simpler solution.

Through GRC Wireless Recycling, students can earn one community service hour for every five cell phones (or smart phones) that they collect and submit. GRC will mail Community Service Hours Certificates to the student for proof of participation, and there is no limit to the number of hours a student can earn.

Once the phones are shipped to GRC, they are either recycled or broken down for useable parts. Payment for phones can reach up to $30 or more per phone, and that money goes directly to Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude, which was founded in 2003, sends care packages to Servicemembers downrange and to Wounded Warriors that are back home. The care packages contain food, toiletries, entertainment items and even personal letters of appreciation.

"Initially, (GRC) came to us with the Community Service program for cell phones, and we were excited that they wanted to do this to help us," said Operation Gratitude founder Carolyn Blashek.

The next big push is for the upcoming holiday season, and according to Blashek, the organization will send its 750,000th package on Dec. 17.

Though the partnership took shape in 2004, this is the first year that Operation Gratitude is the sole nonprofit with which GRC is pairing.  

"This is just a win, win, win situation," said Michele Triana, program manager at GRC. "It means revenue for Operation Gratitude, less stress on the environment and a chance for students to earn quality community service hours. It's a trifecta!"

Once a student is registered, he or she will receive a recycling kit, which includes instructions, free shipping labels and envelopes, within two to five business days. Then they can collect the phones, both those that are broken and ones that are simply being replaced, from friends and family members.

To date, the Florida-based recycler has paid out $121,075.09 to Operation Gratitude, said Triana. Those funds have gone toward both package contents (approximately $15 fills one package) and postage (more than $1 million is spent annually by the nonprofit).

To register for the GRC Wireless Recycling program and give back to Operation Gratitude, visit www.grcrecycling.com/earnhours/formearnhours.cfm?ORG_TYPE=student. For more information email info@grcrecycling.com or call (877) 744-3601.