Girls In Tech

As technology continues to advance, the devices in which we use are going out of style faster than the baggy, parachute-style pants made famous by MC Hammer. A prime example being the method in which we use to connect with our friends, family and clients – the cell phone. Depending on your carrier and calling plan, these phones can cost a pretty penny, and as we continually upgrade to the latest model, you might find yourself with an Island of Digital Misfit Toys.

But alas, Verizon Wireless is leading a mission to take the outcasted devices, and deliver them to new homes – after being refurbished of course. Verizon’s HopeLine® project is collecting no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any service provider, refurbishing or recycling them, and giving the funds raised by selling them, to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country, giving your old phones new life once again. Through HopeLine’s recycling efforts, so far more than 200 tons of electronics waste and batteries have been kept out of landfills.

Via the Verizon HopeLine® website, you can read stories of folks in communities across the United States who have helped collect phones for HopeLine® and the difference they’ve made. This month, the greater Detroit area becomes one of those communities, as Verizon is planning on donating $25,000 to local Michigan nonprofit organizations which benefit domestic violence survivors and their families.

Want to help? Visit the Verizon HopeLine® website, and find out how easy it is to find new homes for your old digital devices.

Tags: cell phones, charity, donation, HopeLine, old devices, recycle, Verizon Wireless
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Are you one of the many out there who has some old electronics lying around? Perhaps an old gaming system you never use, an old flip phone covered in gems, or dare I say it, *gasp* an old beige desktop PC? For many households, these items become “outdated” rather quickly, and often stick around somewhere gathering dust, never to be used again. Today, with the help of many companies, you can recycle and donate your old gadgets. Some of these companies will clean up and resell the items, taking 100% of the profits and putting them into various charities, while others will actually refurbish the devices if possible, putting them in the hands of those in need, such as schools with little-to-no technology programs or budgets, to third world communities who really need the technology but can’t afford it.

So where can you go to donate your used tech toys? There are many resources, such as eBay’s Rethink Initiative / eBay Giving Works, which acts as a directory of resources for you to donate or recycle your gear. Others include Reconnect, a collaboration between Dell and Goodwill, that accepts items in any condition, and is as simple as dropping the items off to a local participating goodwill location. Check out the links at the bottom of this article for even more places to choose from.

Recycling or donating your gadgets is a great way to help others in need, and maybe even help clean up some more space around the house. Of course, for those wondering, there are often tax benefits and write-off’s as well if needed. Don’t forget, if donating pc’s, laptop’s, or cell phones, to be sure to delete and remove all personal or sensitive data from your device’s as well.

The next time you think to toss out that old ipod or personal dvd player, make sure to recycle or donate. You’ll save landfill space, and perhaps help someone less fortunate who could really use it.

Links:
http://www.recyclingforcharities.com/index.php

http://reconnectpartnership.com/whoweare.php

http://www.cristina.org/

http://close-the-gap.org/

http://mashable.com/2010/04/29/donating-electronics/

Tags: charitable, charity, donate, donation, Gadgets, gaming, girls in tech, GIT, iphone, recycle, tech, technology
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