Local charity providing electronic equipment to those in need

by Kyle Goodhue

To help low income families, the charity group Computers For Kids is distributing computers donated to them by local businesses and government agencies.

CFK works with local social service groups to acquire and distribute 80,000 pounds of computer equipment per month. The computers are handed out through garage sales or giveaway events, where 8,000 to 20,000 pounds of equipment is distributed. Computers For Kids began in 2004 and has been in service for eight years.

“Every year we are diverting over a million pounds of equipment,” said CFK’s executive director Chris Davies.  “It is a lot of content to manage.”

Not all computers arrive in good condition. Volunteer technicians check all equipment sent in and repair or replace parts in donation that are salvageable. CFK receives donations from a wide variety of organizations with unneeded computers.

“Usually they’re salvageable, they’re pretty good. If it’s no good we scrap it,” said volunteer technician Clyde LaBonte. “We get them from schools, Windsor Police and Customs, a bit outdated but still good.”

Certain months are busier than others for CFK as the situations for most families change.

“December is a busy month, as well as January, April and August before school starts,” said Davies.

CFK often has trouble with funding to provide their services, partially due to high taxes Davies said. Mainly they have relied on volunteers to repair computers and distribute them to families who need them.

“I would not say we are well funded,” said Davies. “We have had to cut down on staff due to competition, so donations would be appreciated.”

When it comes to volunteers, “We could not do it without them. We have 15 steady volunteers but we need more,” said Davies.