Q. What is FREE GEEK Michiana?
FREE GEEK MICHIANA is a South Bend, Indiana, based non-profit organization that recycles used technology
and provides computers, education and access to the Internet to those in need in exchange for a few hours of
community service.
Q. What are FREE GEEK Michiana's goals?
- Divert obsolete computers and peripheral devices from the solid waste stream and ease pressure on the
environment.
- Refurbish donated obsolete computers and peripheral devices and extend their useful life.
- Provide job training and job skills to volunteers who do the refurbishing.
- Distibute ready to use refurbished computers to low income individuals and families.
- Recycle unusable devices and components in the most environmentally responsible manner available in our
area.
- Provide refurbished computers to the FreeLab and FreeLan programs.
Q. What Are Your Programs?
FreeBox
FREE GEEK Michiana receives donated used computers, refurbishes them and makes them available to
low income families and individuals in exchange for community service. The computer systems we create
(FreeBoxes) are loaded with a GNU/Linux operating system and Free and Open Source (FOSS) application
programs: word processors, email clients, web browsers, file managers, etc.
Our volunteers receive computer systems, components and peripherals in exchange for their help.
FREE GEEK Michiana also conducts FreeBox classes where we distribute computer systems to low income
individuals and families. The recipients take a 3-hour class, pass a hands-on test and take a
FreeBox system home. The classes are coordinated through Title 1 elementary schools (Muessel, Perley, Wilson) in South Bend.
FreeLab
FREE GEEK Michiana is developing a community technology center (lab) utilizing refurbished computers.
Community volunteers will teach classes in beginning, intermediate and advanced computer
subjects. People can use our lab in exchange for volunteer time or a cash donation.
FreeLan and Nerds4Nonprofits
FREE GEEK Michiana will offer computers, local area network installation and maintenance, software,
custom programming and support nonprofit organizations. Volunteers will handle the lower level tech
support and paid staff or contractors deliver advanced support services.
FreeWire
FREE GEEK Michiana sees the necessity of community-owned and controlled networks. Every neighborhood
should have easy and inexpensive access to a community network and the Internet. FREE GEEK Michiana
envisions wireless neighborhood networks fanning out from our neighborhood FreeLabs. FreeWire will
be the last program FGM institutes as it is dependent on the successful implementation of the
FreeBox, FreeLab and FreeLan programs.
Q. How Can I Help?
Volunteer. We need help at the Free Geek Michiana Linux Users Group.
When we find a home for our comuter lab, we will need help supervising and teaching in the lab.
Volunteer. We need help demanufacturing, rebuilding and refurbishing computers
and many other tasks. Volunteers are eligible to take training courses when they are available and
receive free or discounted parts and merchandise from FREE GEEK Michiana.
Donate your old hardware. FREE GEEK Michiana accepts most computer and computer related hardware in any condition. If you are donating equipment that is known to be broken or a computer older than a Pentium-3 PC, we do ask for a donation to help with our processing costs. See our list of suggested donations.
There is a $15.00 disposal fee per monitor, working or not, no exceptions -- this includes computers
with built-in monitors.
Drop off your donation. Drop off your small or large computer donations on Tuesday (6:00 to 9:00 PM) and Thursday (6:30 to 8:30 PM) evenings at our warehouse/workshop in the South Bend Warehousing and Distributing complex, in South Bend, IN. We appreciate an advance phone call (see Contact us below). Here are directions.
Call for pickups. FREE GEEK Michiana does not have regular pick up services.
We pick up only:
- when volunteers are available;
- if the computers are Pentium-3 or better and are in working order; and,
- if you have a dozen or more computers to donate.
Otherwise, drop off your donation at our warehouse as described above.
Donate money. Ask us about our plans and our material needs. Donate cash
along with your hardware donation. See our list of suggested donations.
Contact us. Call 574-298-2706 and ask for Tom Brown, our director. This is Tom's personal mobile phone so he won't respond as "Free Geek Michiana" but as himself. Email Tom using our online form.
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