FREE GEEK PUBLIC DONATION HOURS: WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY | 11AM - 4PM

Our work wouldn't be possible without the work and support of our volunteers!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to tear apart an item of technology and see how it works? At one point or another, we’ve all been there-- curious to look beyond the curtain and see how technology ticks. That’s exactly what Free Geek volunteers do every single day. 

Volunteer Profile: Leah

Leah

Leah (yes, pronounced Leia as in “Princess Leia”), is a retro gamer, an engineer in the tech industry, and a long time Free Geek volunteer. During one of her frequent volunteer shifts, we were able to sit down and talk to Leah about her experience here at Free Geek:

“I’ve been volunteering at Free Geek for 3 years and the experience is just plain fun! I love working with old technology and components. It’s like a puzzle to figure out. 

As a kid, you never knew what was inside, and now I get to take it all apart and see how it works; it really is a nostalgia trip. We’re doing something fun and giving back to our community. 

Knowing that people are able to receive a computer, take classes and go through skills training because I’m volunteering to take apart a computer is a great feeling. It’s a win-win!”

Our volunteers are the diverse driving force behind our mission and include folks from all kinds of places in life: people with disabilities, low income, youth of all backgrounds, native Spanish and other non-english speakers, immigrant populations, LGBTQ people, and many other underserved communities. We provide our volunteers with a safe place for hands-on, experiential learning as well as the opportunity to earn a refurbished “Freektop” (Free Geek Laptop), after 24 hours of volunteer service. 

Since our founding in 2000, we have had over 35,000 volunteers pass through our doors, completing over 1,000,000 volunteer hours to date! Last year, we had over 2,000 active volunteers, donating over 47,000 hours of their time to our mission. Each and every volunteer is a valued member of the Free Geek Community.

We encourage people of all ages, backgrounds and areas of interest to get involved at Free Geek. We work closely with our volunteers to help them develop crucial workforce readiness skills at no cost to them, opening the door to new career opportunities both at Free Geek and beyond. 

Volunteers learn first hand how to understand computers from the inside out, and they keep coming back because they love being a part of our supportive community and the work we do.

Free Geek volunteers have formed the backbone of our organization. They help us by disassembling parts to be recycled, building computers, teaching others, and offering perspectives that shape Free Geek’s daily operations. Whether eight years old or 80, they find their place here! Our work would not be possible without the dedicated effort and ongoing support of our extraordinary volunteers.