From The Naked PC issue #5.04...

Recycling PC Components and Paraphernalia: Part 5 (Finding Recipients for Donations)

by Lee Hudspeth
February 14, 2002

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

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