I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall

My lovely sister-in-law Jody had a brilliant idea, and I'm passing it on here:

Sez Jody:

I have an idea for helping Hurricane victims, but I'm not exactly sure where to start. Matt and I have 3 or 4 old cell phones hanging around, and those people can't seem to find other members of their family... wait... step by step here's the idea.

Collect used cell phones here in California.

Get cell phone companies to activate them.

Distribute to people at the Astrodome and any other refugee shelters in the area, making sure to put a name to a phone number.

Distribute lists to the shelters, so people can start finding each other.

This is the theory any way. I think it is a fairly sound plan. The problem comes in how to implement it. Do I collect phones first, then approach cell phone companies or the otherway around. If I collect phones first and then appear at MEGATELCO's front door, it's easier to manipulate their response. But it's a big chance to take.

So, readers and fellow bloggers: Any ideas on how to organize it? Anyone have any Telco connections?

Don't leave me hanging on the telephone