I recently received an email asking me where old cell phones and computer equipment can be dropped off to help a worthy cause. There are different programs dedicated for each piece of technology.
Cell Phones
Charitable Recycling is an organization that collects used cell phones and either refurbishes them to provide emergency communication to those in need or disposes of them in an environmentally-sound manner.
They are a nationwide program partnered with almost 1000 charities to aid with their fundraising programs. Here’s how it works: Collect cell phones or just donate your own. A monetary donation will be given to the charity of your choice for each phone. All cell phones are accepted, regardless of age or function, as long as they are deactivated.
Donations are always tax deductible and some of the participating charities include: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, The Federal Way Firefighters Foundation, The Epilepsy Foundation, and The Avon Foundation, to name a very few.
Visit the Charitable Recycling website for a full list of charities, drop-off centers, and more.
Computer Equipment
The National Cristina Foundation (NCF) accepts a wide variety of computer equipment and places it within one of its partner organizations around the United States. They provide computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives.
Commonly donated equipment includes: PC Desktop Systems, PC Laptop Systems, Mac Desktop Systems, Mac Laptop Systems, Answering Machines, CDROM Drives, Copier Machines, CPU (Partial System)s, Digital Cameras, Docking Stations, Drawing Tablets, Fax Machines, Flatbed Scanners, Floppy Disk Drives, Handheld Scanners, Hard Disk Drives, Keyboards, Miscellaneous Items, Modems, Monitors, Mouses, Network Devices, Network Interface Cards, Plotters, Printers, Softwares, Sound Cards, Tape Backup Drives, Video Cards, and Zip Drives.
NCF matches the donated computer technology to one or more of its partner organizations in the geographic area where the equipment is located. Visit the NCF website for more details.
These are just two organizations out of many. If you are truly interested in donating your used cell phones and compters, do some research in your area. Call up your local Boys and Girls Club and ask them how to go about donating used technology. Your local school may also need them, as well as shelters.
