Free Geek Helps Metropolitan Learning Center Reduce Energy Use

The Metropolitan Learning Center, a Portland Public Schools alternative program, contacted us a few months ago to see if we could help them replace 25 aging CRT monitors with LCD monitors to reduce their energy use in the computer lab. Thanks to a generous institutional donation, and the hard work of volunteer monitor testers, we are gradually shifting them over to a more environmentally-friendly program:

This is all possible as part of our Hardware Grants program, a predominantly volunteer-powered branch of Free Geek committed to getting computers and related electronics into the hands of deserving community-change and community-service organizations.

Thank you donors, volunteers and Hardware Grants interns for making a difference!

Coming Up: Free Geek Closed for Staff In-Service

Free Geek will be closed for Staff In-Service on four consecutive Tuesdays in spring 2012. Dates of closure include February 21st, February 28th, March 6th, and March 13th. We will be open as normal during the In-Service weeks on Wednesday through Saturday.

Free Computers for K-12 Portland Students

Do you know a K-12 student who attends school in Portland and can use a free computer? Help us spread the word to parents, teachers and principals that Free Geek offers free computers to Portland K-12 students who complete 24 hours of volunteer service. Students can complete their volunteer service in any number of ways including in their communities, schools, churches or other community-oriented organizations.

Students should be able to provide supervisor contact information, so we can confirm the volunteer hours were completed successfully.  Before getting a free computer, monitor, speakers, mouse and keyboard they must also attend a “Getting Started” class so they will know how to setup and use their computer when they bring it home with them that day.

For more information, or to input your request for a free computer, please visit our Plug Into Portland information page.  If you know a teacher, principal or school director who might be interested in more information, please give them this flyer explaining the program.