Computers for Families is asking local businesses and individuals for donations of dual core or Pentium IV PCs capable of running Windows 7, as well as USB mice and keyboards and power cables. Donated computers are refurbished and distributed to local elementary students and their families who don’t have access to technology.
The program is a project of the Santa Barbara county Education Office and the Santa Barbara Partners in Education. A press release from the county Education Office said the program has refurbished more than 10,000 computers in its 18-year history and distributed them through 30 local elementary school networks to students in need.
Citrux Santa Barbara is one of the local businesses that donates equipment to the program. Senior Manager of IT Support Vic Walton said the company donates its surplus equipment to the program.
“It’s a wonderful way for us to reach out to our neighbors and provide them with the technology that is increasingly important in this interconnected world. We’re happy to put older, but still viable, equipment to work for our families rather than in a landfill, and Computers for Families makes that easy,” Walton said in the press release.
Drop off computers at the loading dock at the Santa Barbara County Education Office, 4400 Cathedral Oaks Road, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For additional info, contact program coordinator Kris White at 964-4710, Ext. 5400, or at cff@sbceo.org.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 2, 2014.