[GLLUG] OT: Old computer equipment

[Joseph Glass]

Hey everyone,

I've seen a lot of posts to this list about getting rid of old
equipment.  The Foster Community Center has a computer lab and is always
looking for donations.  Here is a foward with pertinant information. 
You could also post to the mmfn at yahoogroups.com list with any old stuff
you have to donate, there are a lot of non-profits out there who could
use some help!


To:                     mmfn at yahoogroups.com
From:                   "Lynn Hershberger (LynnH)" <Lynn at purpletree.com>
Date sent:              Tue, 23 Dec 2003 12:28:08 -0500
Subject:                [Freecycle-MMFN] wanted: old computers,
speakers, monitors, software- for
        public lab

Hi, friends. Lynn Hershberger here.

I realize someone on the list has already asked for a 
computer and I have 
not heard if they got one. I would ask that you please 
talk to that person 
first, before answering me...

But just in case people get new equipment for the 
holidays, I need to tell 
you why I first joined this list. I run a computer 
classroom/lab at the 
Foster Community Center on the East Side of Lansing 
just west of Frandor 
and highway 127, near Michigan Avenue.

My room is used for two purposes: community education 
classes for adults 
(mostly novice retirees) and as a lab for kids to play 
educational games or 
do homework. In the summer I have over 20 computers all 
occupied with 
children playing games at once. The labs are walk-in 
and totally free 
except it is $0.10 a page to print. I serve hundreds of 
people a year, 
mostly elementary-aged children.

This room got started about 10 years ago with two 
grants. Since then I have 
been working with a budget of no more than $500 a 
year, and the rest of my 
equipment comes from donations. At Y2K I received four 
computers from MSU 
and two different batches from different locations of 
EDS. Since then the 
only new equipment (with the exception of one used 
machine) has come one at 
a time from donations, mostly from my students.

Foster Center is a nonprofit run by the City of Lansing 
Parks and 
Recreation department. All are welcome in my classroom 
whether they live in 
Lansing or not. Any donors receive a tax deduction 
letter for their donation.

I can always use monitors, particularly those larger 
than 14". I really 
need speakers right now, even the tiniest ones. Half of 
my computers are 
486 models, all but 2 of the rest are slow Pentiums 
(that's pentium ONE). I 
have two pentium-II class machines to run my printer.

I can use children's educational software, if it will 
run on older 
computers. I can use business software as well. I would 
love one copy of 
PhotoShop, even if it were an older version such as 
v3.0.

I do not need printers.

I would take any computer that can run any version of 
Windows, 95 or later, 
if it is in running condition. I can wipe out your data 
if you are 
concerned with security. I have licenses for Windows95 
(thanks to a 
software/parts grant I got a few years ago) I can put 
on donated machines 
if you need to keep your own software. If you can bring 
any books, software 
or other extras that came with your machine, that would 
be lovely.

Also if your business is going through a changeover and 
buying new 
machines, I would be interested in the older machines. 
What is obsolete to 
a business is high tech next to what I am using right 
now. I go through a 
police background check each year to work with the 
children, and would be 
happy to come in to your organization and wipe out all 
data on the machines 
before taking them away if you don't have the manpower 
to wipe them out on 
staff. I've heard of two organizations putting 
computers in the 
compressor/dumpster rather than spend the labor hours 
to reformat the hard 
drives. I'm most happy to be the labor, for free, to do 
just that and 
salvage the machines if possible.

I am best contacted by email. I would pick up your 
donation if you need me 
to, or you can take it to Foster after touching base 
with me first.

Thank you for your consideration. Again, if you have a 
fully running 
computer, please contact the individual who made the 
request before me. But 
if that person has been served or you have parts and/or 
software, I'd love 
to put it to good use.

Lynn Hershberger

-- 
Joseph Glass
Systems Administrator
Liquid Web Inc.
800.580.4985 x227