Helping people in need

FALLBROOK — Discarded cell phones are needed for use by abused women and men in need of help. Tony Campbell, of Tony’s Treasures Thrift Store, is collecting phones and handing them out to people who might need them in an emergency. He explained that cell phones can be used to call 9-1-1 as long as their batteries are good; they don’t have to be connected to a phone plan to be used for that purpose.

Campbell knows what it feels like to need help. When the wildfires in 2001 burned his De Luz home, he lost everything. The people of Fallbrook were a big help to him, as was as a group in Bonsall that was helping abused women at the time. Campbell, a bounty hunter and private investigator, had had his office at his home and needed a place to work. In return for helping the group by tracking down deadbeat dads, the group gave him office space. Campbell also helped by finding clothes at thrift stores for the women and children the group was helping.

Campbell started Tony’s Treasures in 2002 as a result of that experience and has been helping those in need ever since even though that group in Bonsall no longer exists. Since the weather has been so cold, he is looking for donations of blankets, jackets of all sizes and space heaters, which will be given to those in need.

Donations can be dropped off at the thrift store, which is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Located at 127 East Mission Road, the store can be reached by phone at (760) 728-3188. Campbell’s Web site is http://www.bailenforcers.com.