From Donors
What will you accept? See Donations for what we accept and do not accept.
Where can I drop off computers? At our office at 3619 Georgia Ave NW, about two blocks south of the Petworth metro stop [at the intersection of Georgia and New Hampshire Avenues, NW].
Do you pick up computers? Yes. We do not pick up other computer equipment [monitors, keyboards, etc.] unless computers are included. Exception: unless our storage space is filled to capacity at the time you contact us, we will pick up donations of monitors in quantities of 10 or more. We almost always need keyboards and mice, and will pick them up in most instances.
Do you provide tax receipts and letters acknowledging donations? Yes.
Are donations to First Time Computers tax deductible? Yes, both cash contributions and the value of donated computer equipment.
Do you take Macs? No.
Do you take laptops? Yes
Do you take really old computers? No. Computers to be donated must have a Pentium III or better processor [or an equivalent non-Intel processor]. We do not accept computers purchased before 2001.
How do I remove personal information from my computer? We wipe all hard drives completely clean as the first step in refurbishing computers donated to us. Nonetheless you should delete all personal files before donating your computer. We suggest the following steps. [1] Start by deleting files and folders you have created in "My Documents" and elsewhere. [2] Uninstall some programs entirely, including any banking, money management, email programs with address books, health related programs, and calendar/PDA programs you used such as Outlook or Palm Desktop. [3] Delete all of your temporary Internet files, cookies, and your internet history. [4] Use the Find or Search function to see if names [especially your own name] words, or phrases of a personal or private nature [e.g., "resume," "medical," etc.,] names of friends or relatives, employers, etc that still exist on your hard drive. For the ultra-cautious, there is always the option of removing your computer's hard drive altogether before you donate it, though we'd prefer you use other ways of protecting your privacy.
What method do you use to wipe hard drives clean? We delete the hard drive's partitions, re-partition the drive, and then format the new partition.
How do you select recipients of computers after you fix them up? We give priority to students taking courses in how to use computers. To locate these students, we have partnered with several organizations in the DC area that offer such courses. Word of mouth remains a leading source of prospective recipients, and eligible callers are placed on a waiting list. On the waiting list, we give priority to low-income families with school-age children. We add all prospective recipients meeting our criteria to our waiting list. Laptops are reserved for low-income students providing us with letters of acceptance from institutions of higher education.
From Recipients
How do I get a computer? It's simple. Phone 202-722-2822 and ask us to add you to our waiting list. You will be asked to provide us with your name, phone, address and names and ages of children in your household. The usual waiting time is about 3 months.
How much do these computers cost? We do not charge anything for our computers. We suggest a modest donation in the $25-$50 range. We suggest larger donations if the computers come equipped with CD burners and/or DVD players.
Are the computers reliable? We make them as reliable as we can. We give each computer a final shake-down test just before we bring it to you. If we deliver a computer to you, we set it up and confirm that it is in good working order. However, all computers, refurbished or new, can develop problems, and ours are not immune.
Do you offer lessons on how to use a computer? Lessons on the basics of using computers are currently available at Byte Back, a local DC non-profit, and by several other organizations. Phone us at 202-722-2822 for suggestions. We offer training in how to fix computers, but no in how to use computers.
Do you repair computers? Yes, but only computers we have donated. We expect you to take the steps we outline in our 6-page guidance to keep your computer running well. We solve as many problems as we can by phone. If ask that you drop off your computer to our office at 3619 Georgia Avenue, NW. When necessary, we make home visits, as time permits. If we can't fix a computer, we will replace it with one that works.
Do you charge for repairs? No, not if the problem is with the computer's hardware. However, we may charge you for a repair if the problem is with your software, and if you could have avoided the problem by following our advice on keeping your computer running well. This advice is contained in the 6-page guidance document that comes with your computer.