(no subject)

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Hey crew,

I'm looking to donate a bunch of monitors, desktops, network gear, and possibly mice/keyboards as well as other errata. Does anyone know off the top of their heads any worthwhile organizations that could benefit from connectivity?

Be warned, I rate suggestions based on how cute and cuddly the recipients of the hardware are.

x-posted to b0st0n

Comments

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

Did you see this post (http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1080475.html) the other day? Maybe try the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter?

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

For that charity or any other, if you're donating anything less than a fully functional computer with all necessary accessories (i.e. monitor, keyboard, mouse), I would suggest talking to them first. It may very well be that they'd love to take bits and parts of computers -- in which case, great, I've got stuff for them too!

But it's also possible that donations of this kind might present them with more trouble than it's worth. It goes for all charities -- if it costs them more to sort/repair/deal with in-kind donations than it would cost them to buy everything new, it's not helping them -- that's why so many Hurricane Katrina charities refused to take used books, clothes, etc.

Unfortunately, computer detritus is notoriously difficult to recycle/otherwise dispose of -- most charities won't take it, computer stores will only take them under limited circumstances, you can't throw them out with the trash, and so forth. That's why I'd suggest talking to them first to find out what kind of donations would be helpful and what would not. Although I suppose you probably weren't planning to just leave a box on their doorstep, so perhaps you would've talked to them anyway. :) Anyway, let us know!