Autumn Clean Out - A Great Time To Donate That Under-used Computer
Autumn Clean Out - A Great Time To Donate That Under-used Computer
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Computers 4 Kids Plus refurbishes computers donated by individuals, businesses, and schools that can be upgraded, and makes them available to students and adult learners who are pursuing a better life.
Started in 2008 when a member of the Fountain Lake (Arkansas) Board of Education became aware of the number of obsolete computers that were being trashed. C4K was formed to find a way to make these units available to the district students and their families who could not otherwise afford them. The C4K program qualified itself as a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher, thus is able to purchase Microsoft products at greatly discounted cost which helps to make the program possible. Through the generosity of the Un
Our mission has always had as a cornerstone the notion of taking used computer units and bringing up to today's standards. At first, our aim was to offer no cost or low cost computers to K-12 students who were less able to afford computing capability. As schools have secured loaner computers for students, our client base has expanded to include adults of all ages who are pursuing further educational opportunities. We've begun including as clients individuals "graduating" from substance abuse programs and formerly incarcerated adults who are learning how to incorporate themselves back into society by contributing to their communities.
We begin with determining if the hardware is capable of being refurbished or rebuilt with our supply of spare parts. The hard drive is wiped completely clean to remove all programs and data files. Then, a fresh install of either Windows 10/11 or Linux Mint is loaded along with Libre Office Suite and other useful applications.
The program began by serving K-12 public education students. It expanded to include home-schooled students, college students, and various non-profits, organizations, and adults who are involved in formal adult education programs. Clients of recovery programs, both substance abuse and post incarceration, often request and receive a refurbished computer. We expanded to add adults and the outfitting of computer labs to aid work-related training, thus the addition of the “+” sign to C4K+.
C4K+ does not charge a recipient for a refurbished computer, but requests a nominal donation of ten dollars for a Linux Mint enabled computer, twenty dollars for a Windows enabled computer, twenty-five dollars for an All-In-One Windows computer, plus ten dollars each when a wireless adapter or wireless mouse is requested.
The Linux operating system was developed as freeware and, to this day, there is no charge to install this Windows-like operating system. Many programs or apps that are favorites within the Windows domain have been duplicated to some degree for the Linux environment. If all a user wants is access to the internet and the use of basic computing programs, Linux can be a credible alternative to Windows.