Donate

 

NOW ACCEPTING DONATIONS FRIDAYS 3-7pm!

In order to save time it would be helpful to have a list of the items that you are donating prior to dropping them off for donation. 

Your Donations Make A Difference

Your donation -- whether it is time donated volunteering, equipment donated, or funds -- directly impacts the individuals, families, community groups and organizations that we serve in Athens, Georgia and the surrounding area.  Your donated time could help train someone on how to repair a computer, gain technology skills, or support the organization administratively.  Your computer donation could help a family gain access to technology or the Internet for the first time, help a non-profit get started, increase the capacity of a community group, or help a student excel in school.  Your monetary donation could help the organization continue its mission.  We thank you for donating to Free IT Athens.

What Items Do You Accept?

We accept the following:

  • Desktop and laptop computers with a Pentium IV/AMD Athlon or newer processor (anything older will be recycled)
  • LCD and CRT Monitors
  • Laser and inkjet printers
  • Computer speakers
  • PS/2 or USB keyboards and mice
  • Memory
  • Hard drives
  • Disc drives
  • Grounded extension cords
  • Power strips
  • Battery backups
  • Tools of all varieties. If it can open a computer, crimp a cable, test a part, etc. we probably want it!
  • Office supplies (printer paper and pens are always appreciated!)

We do not accept the following:

  • Televisions
  • Media players (VCRs, Laser Disc players, CD Players, DVD players, Blu-ray players, etc.)
  • Video Game Systems
  • Audio equipment (e.g. stereo systems)
  • Miscellaneous boxes of unsorted cables and/or junk. 
  • Software.  Why?

These items may be taken to the Athens-Clarke County Landfill.

Individuals Wanting to Donate

Donations may be taken to our workspace on Sunday from 1-5pm and Wednesday from 6-8pm and Friday from 3-7pm. When you arrive, please knock on the door on the bottom floor at the back of the building and someone will let you in. Our volunteers will be able to carry your equipment into the building and print a receipt. If you are unable to donate at the aforementioned times, please contact us to arrange an alternate drop-off or pick-up time.  Please do not leave donations outside of our building .

Organizations and Businesses Wanting to Donate

If you represent an organization or business with a large amount of hardware to donate, please contact us to arrange a pick-up or drop-off. Please do not leave donations outside of our building.

What Happens to My Computer?

When you donate your computer to Free I.T. Athens, our volunteers remove its hard drive and put the drive through a data wiping process using free software called DBAN.  DBAN permanently removes data on the drive (which makes it unrecoverable) by writing random numbers to the disk.

After your data has been wiped from the hard drive Free I.T. Athens volunteers will refurbish your computer using a free operating system called Linux Mint.  Your computer will either be given to a volunteer for completing community service with Free I.T. Athens, sold to an individual or family that cannot afford a new computer, or granted to a non-profit organization.  If your computer cannot be refurbished, it will be recycled.

Monetary Donations

Monetary donations are sincerely appreciated. You may donate via cash or check during our open hours, via mail (please mail donations to P.O. Box 81931 Athens, GA 30608), or electronic funds transfer. You may also donate using a credit card through the PayPal "Donate" button on the left hand side of this page or by clicking here. Your donation will make a direct impact, and be used to purchase tools and miscellaneous hardware, provide transportation to and from recycling facilities, pay rent and utilities at our office, and community outreach.

Free I.T. Athens is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN # 27-2381518) so your donations made are tax deductible.  We do not valuate donations made.  If you are in need of information on how much your item is worth, it is suggested to view our prices page, to check online marketplaces for going used rates on your particular item, or to contact a Certified Public Accountant.

If you have any questions about items we accept or want more general information on donating please call 706-621-6157 or e-mail donate@freeitathens.org.