Organizations Facilitating the Donation of
Used Computer Hardware in California
- BMUG Computer Placement Project
- Computer Recycling Center, Santa Clara
- Computers & You/Glide Memorial Church
- Detwiler Foundation
- Goodwill Industries of Orange County
- Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire
- KidSource Online
- Komputers 4 Kids
- Marin Computer Resource Center
- Nonprofit Services Oakland Technology Exchange Project Y.E.S.
- Shelter Hill Computer Learning Center
- Smart Schools PC Day
- Smart Valley
The Berkeley Mac Users Group collects used MacIntosh computers from its membership and the local community. They work with community agencies like BOSS, Women's Economic Agenda Project and the Center for Accessible Technology to identify economically disadvantaged and underserved families and individuals who could benefit from the use of a refurbished computer for schooling or retraining purposes. Recipients receive free Basic MAC classes, access to Planet BMUG (bbs), a 6-month membership in BMUG and technical support.
Contact: Colleen Miller
Berkeley Mac User Group
1442A Walnut Street #62
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510)549-2684 x210
COMPUTER RECYCLING CENTER
CRC has collected, refurbished and redistributed over 20,000 computers to schools in the San Francisco Bay area, since its founding. The nonprofit agency accepts donations of computers, (working or not), and books and software from individuals and companies throughout California. They also provide technical training for high school and college students, participate in national collection efforts and offer sales of surplus parts to the general public. CRC now has three locations in Northern CA (Santa Clara, Santa Rosa and San Francisco).
Contact: Mark Hoss
Computer Recycling Center
2971 Mead Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408)327-1800 phone
(408)327-1801 fax
Info@CRC.org
COMPUTERS AND YOU/GLIDE MEMORIAL CHURCH
Glide Memorial Church program provides computer access and training to the homeless and other underprivileged populations. Over 6,000 adults and children have been trained in computer literacy through this program. There is some pass-through of used equipment at subsidized rates.
Computers And You/Glide Memorial Church
330 Ellis Street Rm 610
San Francisco, CA 94102
Voice: (415)922-7593
Fax: (415)922-0756
Email: Computers & You
DETWILER FOUNDATION
Detwiler has established collection sites in California, Minnesota and Hawaii and is spearheading a national "Computers For Schools" effort. As of Summer 1998, more than 43,000 computers have been placed in schools through the work of the Detwiler Foundation and its partners. In-kind donations typically come from the government and business sectors or are collected by civic groups. The agency also accepts cash contributions. The agency accepts Macintosh, IBM and PC compatible personal computers 386 or faster, hard drives, working monitors, keyboards, working printers and peripherals. Computers are refurbished at correctional facilities, vocational centers and community colleges and then placed in schools according to the preferences of the donor and to schools in "Empowerment Zones" that have been targeted for federal assistance. Note: no donations to individuals.
Detwiler Foundation - PCs for Schools
Office: 3642 N. Springfield
Chicago, IL. 60618
Warehouse: 3350 N. Kedzie, Dock 2
Chicago, IL. 60618
Telephone: (800) 939-6000
Facsimile: (773) 583-7585
E-mail: donations@pcsforschools.org
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF ORANGE COUNTY
Accepts charitable donations of used computers from business and individuals. The computers are used in a work training program for disabled people who are looking to enter the job market. Free home or office pick-up is available.
Contact: Nancy Quarles
Goodwill Industries of Orange County
(714)547-6301
Email: Orange County Goodwill
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF REDWOOD EMPIRE
Computer equipment donations received are evaluated, repaired or rebuilt, if required and then sold at low cost to the community. The goal of this program is three fold. It diverts computer equipment from land fill by recycling, provides additional funding for the Employment and Training Programs and provides computers at low cost to those that cannot afford to purchase new equipment. The agency will pick up donations or they may be dropped off at retail locations. They have offices in Ukiah, Napa, Santa Rosa and Sonoma.
Goodwill Industries of Redwood Empire
(800) 400-2720
Email: Goodwill, Redwood Empire
- KIDSOURCE ONLINE
KidSource Online matches needy schools with excess, unused or obsolete computer equipment, as a free public service. They serves as a "match-maker" for all computer exchanges between schools, individuals and corporations. They do not make direct distributions of equipment. The actual transaction takes place directly between the requesting educator and the donor.
KidSource Online
1066 Kelly Drive Ste 113
San Jose, CA 95129
(408)253-0246 phone
(408)253-7391 fax
Email: KidSource Online
- KOMPUTERS 4 KIDS
Komputers 4 Kids is a project of the Brea Rotary Club and the Brea-Olinda Unified School District. The goal is to provide every student with the opportunity to learn marketable computer skills. Komputers 4 Kids collects and refurbishes Macs (Classic or newer) and PCs (386 or newer) plus scanners, printers, computer furniture, CD-Rom players, external drives and other equipment for redistribution into the schools. Hardware must be in good working order.
Komputers 4 Kids
(714)990-7827
(714)529-2137
Email: Komputers 4 Kids
MARIN COMPUTER RESOURCE CENTER
Donates computers and related equipment to non profit organizations, school libraries, and low income families in the Marin County area. Other organizations can apply if they arrange transportation. Also distributes used equipment to other countries.
Contact: Clay Thompson
Marin Computer Resource Center
862 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, No. 166
San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 454-4227 Fax:(415) 456-9492
NONPROFIT SERVICES
Donates computers and related equipment to member ($30 fee) nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay area.
Contact: James Chao
Nonprofit Services
1605 63rd Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 658-4760
- OAKLAND TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE
A project of the Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute, this nonprofit school-run program finds and recycles computers for use by students in the Oakland Public Schools. Students learn develop technical and business skills as they work in a "repair classroom" to fix machines. They earn "tech bucks" script that can be redeemed for computers to be used at home. Graduates of Tech have accumulated enough points to take 100 computers with them to college. The school has also recycled several hundred computers for use in the classrooms. The group plans to train and place high school students in elementary and middle schools as tech aids in the classroom.
Contact: Bruce Buckelew or Oliver Ewing
Oakland Technology Exchange
4351 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94611
(510)428-2493 phone
(510)547-0884 fax
Email: Bruce Buckelew
- PROJECT YES
The Columbia Park Boys & Girls Club receives donations of computers and peripherals and teaches kids how to repair them. Kids earn points repairing computers. After the refurbishes are complete, they are given to nonprofit organizations. The kids are also trained to help with tech support at the installation sites of nonprofit agencies. The agency plans to add a software distribution service, through their Internet site.
Contact: Eric W. Gray
Project Y.E.S.(Youth Employment Skills)
Columbia Park Boys & Girls Club
450 Guerrero Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415)861-8232
email: Project Y.E.S.
- SHELTER HILL COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER
Shelter Hill works with the HUD Neighborhood Networks program and community agencies like the Marin Computer Resource Center to make technology available to economically disadvantaged populations. The Shelter Hill Computer Learning Center provides computer equipment, technical/job training and support to residents of a subsidized housing residential community in Mill Valley, CA.
Contact: Nicolas Retsinas
Shelter Hill Computer Learning Center
Shelter Hill Apartments
Mill Valley, CA
(415)383-1577
SMARTSCHOOLS PC DAY
A complement to SmartSchools Net Day I,II & III, this project will provide 3,000 network-ready multimedia Pentium processor based personal computers for distribution to 500+ California classrooms at a cost to the schools of $100 per machine. Computers will be given to teachers who submit plans for effective usage of technology to enhance curriculum in the classroom. Teachers will also be partnered with skilled industry volunteers who will work with them over the next year. The next computer distribution will be made in 1997. Teachers from San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey County K-12 schools are eligible to participate. Application forms are available online. Please note: Smart Schools assembles new computers through donations of NEW parts from high tech companies. They do not accept used computer donations.
Contact: PC Day Committee
SmartSchools PC Day
2520 Mission College Boulevard, Ste 202
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408)562-7707 phone
(408)562-7677 fax
email: Smart Valley, Inc.
SMART VALLEY, Inc.
Smart Valley, Inc. is a public and private partnership of local Silicon Valley Companies working together with the community to coordinate people and technology with projects that enhance the quality of life in Silicon Valley. Their goal is to put 3,000 network-ready multimedia computers in local schools and to connect youth with employers who want to hire them. They also solicit cash donations for wiring supplies and recruit volunteers to handle annual NetDay high-speed wiring of Silicon Valley schools. Please note: Smart Valley assembles new computers through donations of NEW parts from high tech companies. They do not accept used computer donations.
Contact: Pete Sinclair, President
Smart Valley, Inc.
2520 Mission College Boulevard, Ste 202
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408)562-7707 phone
(408)562-7677 fax
email: Smart Valley, Inc.
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Last modified: October 31, 2005
Yannis Grammatis