Have an old, working laptop you no longer use? Is it just taking up space in a closet or drawer? Please consider dusting it off and bringing it to the Burlington County Library on Saturday, June 26 between 10 am and 2 pm to help a good cause.
The urgency to stay connected digitally that gripped the community during the height of the pandemic may be waning, but the Burlington County Library System Foundation remains committed to providing needy families with working laptops. Through its “Technology for All” program, the foundation is once again asking residents to donate their used, but still functioning computers that can be wiped clean of data, outfitted with new software and refurbished to benefit those who are struggling financially. A registered 501(c)3 non-profit that supports the library system, the foundation is also seeking tax-deductible donations of cash and other assets to offset the cost of new hardware and software.
Foundation President Pat Lindsay-Harvey stressed that the donated equipment must still be in working order for volunteer computer experts to be able to refurbish it. (She noted that residents should seek other means of disposing of non-working computers, including the county recycling program.) Even though all donated equipment will be purged of data, residents are also being encouraged to remove their data before turning it over. Specifically, the foundation is seeking donations of working:
- PCs – Laptops installed with Windows 7 or newer (no Vista or XP)
- Chromebooks
- Apple products, including iPads or printers
This is the second time this year the foundation has sought used, working equipment through a community collection drive and Lindsay-Harvey noted that the donated laptops can be truly life-changing for the recipients in need. For their assistance in refurbishing the laptops to benefit struggling Burlington County residents, the foundation would like to offer special thanks to local nonprofits Computer Smiles and TDI Connect, along with South Jersey Apple Users Group.
The laptop refurbishing program dovetails with other ongoing "Technology for All" initiatives. The foundation has raised or donated funds totaling $6,000 which, coupled with a $45,000 grant, has enabled the library system to buy Chromebooks and mobile hotspots for loan to library customers.
