Bill Ustinovich and his brother Randy have been collecting dead watch batteries since 1976, when their parents opened a jewelry store on Faunce Corner Road.

It was their first job while working under parents Bill and Linda at the family-owned Ustinov Jewelers. Jars of battery watches now line the workspace at the back of the store.

"We weren't allowed to talk to customers. We were allowed to change watch batteries," said Ustinovich, who was 12-years-old at the time.

The brothers took over the family business in 2006, but they wanted to take it one step further.

“[Sister Rosellen Gallogly] originally came in for a watch battery,” said Ustinovich. It was Gallogly’s connection with the Ustinovich family that began their monthly donations to the New Bedford-based homeless shelter, the Sister Rose House.

“They get a lot of food donations, but they have a hard time paying the heating bill,” said Ustinovich.

Ustinovich charges $5 for a watch battery replacement, and the money goes straight into a collection jar that he started eight years ago for the homeless shelter. The company now donates about $600 bimonthly — all from watch battery fixes — to the shelter, said Ustinovich.

“The number one thing we do in the store is watch batteries for customers,” he said.

Ustinovich has a firm belief that businesses should give back to communities. That’s why he also holds “dog days” at the store, in which staff engrave dog tags for $5 and donate the money raised to local animal shelters. He also said taking care of veterans is a must.

Ustinovich said it’s not hard to recognize veterans when they come in for a new watch battery. “I shake their hand, thank them, and send them on their way,” he said, explaining that he won’t let them pay for the service.