|
Berkeley,
California (Thursday, January 29, 2004)
– The City of
Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development and the Alameda County
Computer Resource Center (ACCRC) joined together earlier this month
to donate 60 computers to Berkeley
community groups. The
recipient organizations work on issues ranging from housing and
homelessness to youth development and education.
The computers were made available by the Alameda
County Computer Resource Center (ACCRC), which diverts discarded
electronics from landfills by refurbishing the equipment and giving
it to individuals, schools, and non-profit groups.
The
City of Berkeley worked closely with ACCRC to help them open its new
drop off center on Berkeley’s Eastshore Highway.
ACCRC executive director James Burgett said that ACCRC was so
pleased with its new Berkeley home that they offered to provide
computers for the city to give to local community groups.
"Berkeley has provided us tremendous support," he
explained, "now we want to give back to the city."
Jennifer Cogley, Berkeley’s Eco-Business Coordinator, worked with
city staff and local civic organizations to distribute the
equipment. "In
these challenging economic circumstances, I think it’s terrific
that we can leverage local resources to make a difference in our
community. In aggregate
the computers donated are worth $18,000.
In addition, each computer was loaded with open source
software. On the
commercial market, comparable software would have cost $1,500 per
machine to purchase. That
means that, in effect, together the City and ACCRC have given over
$100,000 to Berkeley organizations."
Computers
and electronics have recently been identified as toxic waste and are
now discouraged from landfills. The
change has meant fast growth for ACCRC. The
organization recycles approximately 100 tons of equipment a month,
including over 1,000 computers, according to James Burgett, director
of ACCRC. Mr. Burgett
adds a social dimension to his organization’s mission by giving
away 100 computers per month to needy organizations around the
world. "ACCRC is not just an environmental service, it's a
community service," said Burgett. The
organization provides community members free training in rebuilding
computers. The renewed
equipment is then given to individuals, schools, and non-profit
groups. Over the past
ten years, ACCRC has provided computers for Doctors without Borders,
the Afghan Women's Coalition and the governments of Latvia and
Estonia.
Building
Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS) and the Berkeley Boosters
each received computers in this round of donations. BOSS provides shelter and services to the homeless and will
use the computers to create a computer lab for residents of the
shelter. “We are
grateful for the gift,” said Janny Castillo, an administrator for
BOSS. “Most work
opportunities today depend on computers at some level. These
computers can help the BOSS residents get skills and access to
become financially independent.”
The
Berkeley Boosters uses local police officers as mentors for low
income and at risk youth. The
organization plans to use the equipment to create a computer lab for
youth to learn software and do homework. Computers
were also given to KPFA, Women's Daytime Drop-in Center, Tinkers
Workshop, Berkeley Family Self Sufficiency Tenant Association, Young
Adult Project, and the South Berkeley Neighborhood Development
Corporation.
###
|
