Illinoisans donated more than one thousand cell phones during a domestic violence phone drive.  Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon says that amounts to about ten thousand dollars to help victims of domestic abuse.

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Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence Director Vickie Smith says people can do big things when they do the simplest of tasks.

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The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence will use the money to expand its Virtual Legal Clinic consultation program, which connects domestic violence survivors in underserved rural areas with an experienced family law attorney for free legal counseling.  This is the second year Simon's office partnered with Verizon Wireless for the HopeLine phone drive.  Anyone can donate a phone at a local Verizon store, or go to VerizonWireless.com, search HopeLine, and download and print a pre-paid postage label to send in your old phone.