How much used computer equipment do you have lying around the office or at home? Have you been so good about keeping up on technology that you now have several old computers lying in a jumbled heap in your own technological graveyard? Do you have a collection of cell phones that date back to a time when your phone took up half your briefcase?

Well, let us put an end to that right now. The following is a brief list of organizations accepting donations of used computer equipment and used cellular phones. Almost all of the organizations will clear your hard drive to ensure that no one obtains access to confidential information which was once stored there. Your used cell phone will be refurbished and reprogrammed to contact "911." It will then be provided to victims of domestic violence, free of charge, to be used in case of an emergency. The donations may also be tax-deductible, so be sure and obtain a receipt and check with your tax advisor about the deductibility.

So make a call, take a short trip, or fill out an envelope and donate that used hardware. You will get back much-needed space, put an end to your procrastination, and most importantly, provide tools for someone who is truly in need.

Agencies accepting used computer equipment:

United Cerebral Palsy Association

Assistive Technology Exchange Network

7550 183^rd Street

Tinley Park, IL 60477

(708) 444-2863

 

(Computers are donated to schools to help children with disabilities. If you have at least five computers to donate, they will pick them up. Computers must be at least Pentium 1 and in good working condition).

Time Dollar Cross-Age Peer Tutoring Program

1819 W. Pershing

Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 233-4442

 

(Computers are donated for home use by Chicago Public School students. If you have at least five computers to donate, they will pick them up).

Computers for Schools Association

3642 N. Springfield Avenue

Chicago, IL 60618

(773) 583-7575

 

(Computers are donated to schools. If you have at least 10 computers to donate, they will pick them up).

Get Well Gigabytes

6141 North Knox Avenue

Chicago, IL 60646

(773) 283-4484

 

(Computers are donated to hospitalized children. They are in need of laptops but will accept any type of computer equipment as well as software. Will pick up computer equipment anywhere in the Chicagoland area).

Goodwill Industries

Northpoint Shopping Center

8901 N. Knoxville Avenue

Peoria, IL 61605

(309) 682-1113

 

(Computers are used in training facilities and employment training participant's homes for improving computer skills. Computers can be dropped off at any attended donation center in the Central Illinois area).

The Hands Foundation

628 North Second St.

Monmouth, IL 61462

(309) 734-5211

 

(Computers are used to help train adults and children with disabilities. Contact the Foundation to see if they are available to pick up equipment).

Operation Homelink

Contact: ohl@redemtech.com

 

(Computers are provided to family members of deployed military personnel in the junior enlisted ranks to enable regular email communication between the personnel and their families. Check the Web site <www.operationhomelink.org> about drop-off locations depending on when you do so).

Peoples Resource Center Computer Literacy Training and Access Program

232 N. Gables

Wheaton, IL 60137

(630) 784-9372

 

(Computers are used to provide basic computer literacy training in neighborhood training sites around DuPage County and are also provided to low-income households in DuPage County).

And for your used cell phones:

The Wireless Foundation "Call to Protect" Program drop-off points:

Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation

1817 S. Neil Street

Suite 203

Champaign, Illinois 61820

(217) 356-1351

 

Franklin Covey (or any Franklin Covey store)

230 S. Clark Street

Bank of America Building

Chicago, Illinois 60604

(312) 726-0842

 

Office of Congressman John Shimkus (or any of his local offices)

3130 Chatham Road

Suite C

Springfield, Illinois 62704

(217) 492-5090

 

Verizon Wireless (or any Verizon Wireless location)

6387 E. State

Rockford, Illinois 61108

(815)395-0150

 

-or-

 

5949 North Illinois

Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208

(618)257-9848

 

(also see <www.wirelessfoundation.org> for other drop-off locations).