I'm thinking of giving away some computers...?

Question

I would like to get them in the hands of needy households where the children would love to have one but just don't have the money. How would I find those people?

Answer 1

Best bet:  contact Volunteers of America at http://www.voa.org/LocalOffices/tabid/51... and find a local office, if one exists.  They help destitute families get back on their feet again, and a computer would go a long way towards helping them get there.

Answer 2

Many people, even low-income people, are reluctant to accept computer donations, because they don't come with any tech support or warranties.

You don't say what city you are in. The Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet) might be able to match you with a nonprofit in your area that accepts computer donations and refurbishes these and provides them for low-income people, *and* provides some training and technical assistance.

http://www.ctcnet.org/

You can also check with your local Goodwill. A growing number of Goodwill centers are accepting computer donations. Volunteers or those that are being trained through Goodwill will prepare these for sale at a low-cost in their stores, and the funds are used to fund Goodwill's many training programs for people needing to enter the workforce.

Also see this web site

http://www.usedcomputer.com/nonprof.html

Otherwise -- ask your friends and neighbors if they know of households that can't afford a computer but have children who know how to use such. Make sure the computer has all of your information deleted. Donate your software for the computer as well, or switch the office suite (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.) to Open Office (if it's not already), so the user can get the support needed in the future.

Answer 3

Many churches know of people in these situations.  Also, women's shelters that focus on giving families new starts would be an option.  Way to pay it forward!