BGAMUG first learned of the need for refurbished computers for Hurricane Katrina Victims in September of 2005 from the MAR (Microsoft Authorized Reburbisher) program, of which we are a member. Having had a refurbishing and PC Placement program in effect since 1996, our leaders discussed and authorized the project.
The computers would need to be ready to run, transported to Baton Rouge Louisiana, and turned over to the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council, (CACRC), for local distribution.
We launched a campaign to obtain computers and funds from members, area businesses, and other organizations by making personal pleas, press releases and TV appearances.
Within a month we had 50 restored computers and $945 donated to finance the trip.
After hours of testing, sorting, and making technical adjustments to the donated computers under the supervision of our PC Placement Program Director Gene Iglehart, a retired computer technician, our first 50 computers were delivered on October 28, 2005 by BGAMUG members.
With local publicity about the trip, we soon had enough donated computers and volunteers to make a second trip on May 31, 2006, this time with 215 computers with the assistance of boy scouts from local troops.
The highlight of the second trip was directly awarding some of the computers to the qualified recipients from the tailgate of the truck.
View complete story with photos at our BLOG http://katrinacomputers.blogspot.com/