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Computer Contribution Campaign, by Kate Emery
Our second computer contribution campaign, held on June 4th, took in over 80 computers, and over $1,000 to help pay for the refurbishing costs.
 The idea behind this program is to get used computers from area families and businesses, and, donate them to students with financial need, nonprofit organizations, or other individuals who might otherwise not have access to technology. We have been certified by Microsoft as an Authorized Refurbisher which means we can load Windows 98 or 2000 onto the donated equipment for a very low ($5) operating cost.
During this drive we charged $10 per component (CPU, Monitor, Printer) and it didn’t seem to discourage anyone. We’re hoping that if we can defray the costs, then we can offer this service more often. Apparently people care more about keeping our landfills clean, ensuring that no one is mining their data, and knowing that these computers are being given to those who can really use them, more than makes up for the small charge to donate them.
By adding this donation fee we hope to be able to offer a drive more frequently. Our first drive cost over $1,400 in recycling and software fees, not to mention the 400 hours of engineering time.
During our first drive which lasted 5 days we did not charge a fee and we collected just over 100 computers. This number compares well with the most recent drive considering the fee and the fact that it lasted only one day.
We hope to conduct these drives twice per year, which at this point will keep our Computer Contribution store room full and our engineers busy.
We’d like to include a training component soon to bring on high school student interns who might benefit from career and life skills training. They’ll learn troubleshooting skills and earn a computer in the process. At this point the program will become a win-win-win.
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