This is a new article in my ongoing series about greener
recycling of PCs and PC stuff. For a quick index to my previous
articles in this series see my supplemental page:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee1
Many of you have written in recently asking me for additional tips and ideas on how to find specific recipients for donations. One source I turned to for information is Dr. Ken Goldstein, founder, Hawaii Computers for Kids Program (www.catii.com), whose counsel and kindness I much appreciate. He provided several excellent leads which I include in this article. (Any errors in this article are entirely my own.)
* Hawaii Computer for Kids Program -- This is Dr. Goldstein's
site. If you live in Hawaii and have any surplus PCs or
components, please visit this site. The Hawaii Computer for Kids
Program takes your surplus equipment and software and distributes
them to grade schools and high schools throughout the state of
Hawaii wherever they can make a difference.
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee2
* How to locate the right people to talk to within your local school system -- Start by looking in the white & yellow pages (either hard copy or on the Internet) for your school district's administrative office. For example, I used SuperPages.com (http://superpages.gte.net), entered "los angeles city board of education", selected CA for California, scrolled down the hit list to "Boards of Education" and was able to view a wide range of listings in my area. I then skipped over to AltaVista's search engine, located my school district, and--since Los Angeles county is so large--drilled down to the job title that related to information and technology, specifically, Assistant Superintendent, Information and Technology. That's where I started my calls. You can follow the same basic steps for your area.
* How to locate the right people to talk to at your local church, place of worship, or other non-secular entity -- I suggest you use the white & yellow pages (again, either hard copy or online) and call the organization's administrative office. Staff will welcome your interest in making an equipment donation, or if not, be able to refer you to another local cause that is interested.
* Computers for School Foundation (CFS) -- According to its Web
site, "CFSA is a non-profit professional association of
organizations involved in the management of refreshed (functional
systems replaced by up-to-date equipment) computers and their
placement into our nation's schools and educational
institutions." From the site's home page you can branch off to
read about the CFS, study FAQs, learn how to donate, find out
more about the repair process, and so forth.
This page explains how to donate:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee5
* PEP: Resources for Parents, Educators & Publishers -- This
group maintains a National Directory of Computer Recycling
Programs that has international, national (U.S.), and state
listings. For example, their links under California provide 21
state-level resources.
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee6
* U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) -- Computers for
Learning (CFL) is a federal Web site run by the GSA. "The program
transfers excess Federal computer equipment to schools and
educational nonprofit organizations, giving special consideration
to those with the greatest need. The CFL website connects the
registered needs of schools and educational nonprofit
organizations with available Government computer equipment.
Federal agencies use the website to transfer computers based upon
indications of need."
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee7
* PhilanthropySearch is a nonprofit and philanthropic search
engine:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee8
* Give.org -- Here you can read what the BBB Wise Giving Alliance
has to say about its set of standards for charitable
solicitations, and its evaluations of various charities. (The
Alliance is a self-described "...merger of the National Charities
Information Bureau and the Council of Better Business Bureaus'
Foundation and its Philanthropic Advisory Service.") The
evaluations include a yes/no on meeting the CBBB Standards for
Charitable Solicitations, along with descriptions of programs,
governance, fund raising methods, tax status, and financial data.
I once donated an aging car to the American Heart Association,
but at the time I didn't know about this resource to validate the
organization's status. Wish I had (not that anything is wrong
with the AHA, but knowledge is power and more is better).
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee9
If you have any ideas or suggestions for ways to use the Internet to find eligible recipients for PCs and component donations, or know of any agencies, institutions, or other resources related to the donation of these types of material. I would like to hear from you.
You can reach Lee Hudspeth at:
mailto:LeeHudspeth@TheNakedPC.com
