Nobody’s Dreaming of a White Elephant
If you have any PCs or other electronic equipment lying around that you’re not using, now is a good time to consider giving them to a school, nonprofit organization or house of worship.
In addition to creating space in your closet or garage, you might also be able to get a break on your 1996 tax return if you act before the end of the year. That old printer, modem or PC sitting in your closet may be obsolete to you, but it could be just the thing for a technology-starved organization.
But be careful. Before you drop off a box of computer parts on an unsuspecting organization, do a little homework to make sure your gift will be appreciated. Regardless of your motivations, an inappropriate donation could turn into a white elephant for the organization that receives it.
Schools are always in need of more computers, but those old Apple IIs, IBM XTs or 286 machines, Mac Pluses and other ancient hardware simply can’t run most of the software used in schools today. Today’s educational programs typically require CD-ROM drives and machines that can at least run Windows 3.1 or Macintosh System 6.
There are exceptions. Schools can use just about any computer to teach keyboarding skills, and there are some schools that still have uses for Apple IIs and other older machines.
The key is to ask before you donate, and don’t just talk to whoever works in the office. Try to connect with the staff members who will deploy the technology, to see if it meets their needs.
The same holds for religious or nonprofit organizations. Be especially careful if the group is run by people who are not computer-savvy. They might be delighted to get a computer, only to find out later that it’s a major headache to get it to do anything useful.
The best gift you can give a group is not a pile of hardware or software but a solution. Donate some of your own time to figure out what they need and what you can do to help. Help them hook up the PC and install the software and provide some training on how it can be used.
If the machine you donate has software on it, be sure you’re not violating any copyright or licensing rules. In general, that means providing the original disks or CD as well as any documentation, and destroying any backup copies you have.
If you don’t have the time to volunteer or can’t locate an organization that can make good use of your equipment, you can work with one of several clearinghouses that will turn it over to an appropriate school or group.
Gifts in Kind International ([703] 836-2121 or https://www.giftsinkind.org/) can fax you a list of local organizations in need of equipment. They’ll accept only 386 PCs or better with at least 240-MB hard drives. Macs should be Mac II or newer. They prefer full working systems, and require that all software be removed. Because they link you to a local organization, you don’t have to ship your system throughout the country.
The National Cristina Foundation also links local organizations with companies and individuals wishing to donate. The group, which provides support for organizations that train people with “disabilities, at-risk students and the disadvantaged,” can use all types of computer equipment and software, including boards, disk drives and other components. Call (800) 274-7846 or send e-mail to ncfusa@aol.com
East West Education Development Foundation ([617] 261-6699 or https://www.bitwise.net/eastwest/) accepts any type of computer equipment, including components and circuit boards. What they can use is matched up with other working components and sent to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and overseas. What can’t be fixed is recycled. Donations must be sent to the organization (23 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210) at the donor’s expense.
The Detwiler Foundation Computers for Schools Program places donated equipment in California schools. The foundation accepts 386 or better PCs or Mac II or LC machines as well as spare parts. Donation guidelines are on the group’s Web site (https://www.detwiler.org/) or you can call (800) 939-6000.
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Lawrence J. Magid can be reached via e-mail at magid@latimes.com. His World Wide Web page is at https://www.larrysworld.com
