Short version: DANEnet's Digital Equity Project needs $2,500 to refurbish 50 donated laptops so they can be given to low-income households without computers that need them for accessing jobs, improving job skills, educational success, telehealth, and other resources for helping them stay safe and thrive. Refurbishment costs an average of $50 per laptop and this covers the cost of needed power cord or battery replacements as well as discounted licenses for Windows and Office.

Full Story: DANEnet is a small (but mighty!) nonprofit focused on digital equity and we've been providing affordable website & IT support services to dozens of nonprofits throughout Dane County since the 90's. While we've also occasionally run community programs (like computer-building classes for kids at Goodman Community Center), we didn't kick that work into high gear until the COVID shutdown laid bare the most dangerous part of the digital divide: it isolates vulnerable people from the help and resources they need to survive.

Shortly after I was hired as DANEnet's executive director the summer of 2020, our technicians were working to migrate hundreds of nonprofit workers into remote set-ups and everyone slowly realized direct service providers (caseworkers, social workers, nurses, and educators) were unable to maintain contact with their clients without computers, meaning hundreds of extremely poor families, adults with disabilities, veterans, and seniors were cut off from their lifeline of support. So I hustled & hoarded donated computers from companies that were closing, learned to securely wipe & refurbish them, then delivered them to our nonprofit partners' clients on the weekends. I was not paid to oversee the computer refurbishment program because we had no extra money for it --I volunteered my time to make this all happen, and I eventually recruited two kick-ass lady volunteers to help with refurbishment & deliveries. (Shout out to Kala Taylor and Jasmine Banks!!) In the early days I sometimes broke down and cried in my car after delivering and setting up a computer for people, very often their very first ever computer, because it was obviously such a life-changer. Single moms excitedly talked about going back to school online, and elders cried with relief that they could stay in touch with their friends and families. I was moved by the excitement, stories, and gratitude of our computer recipients. The impact of our refurbished computer program was stunning.

While the situation is not so dire four years later, we're still doing this work; it's now officially called the Refurbished Laptop Program and it's part of our community-focused Digital Equity Project (which also provides free digital literacy education in the community as funding allows). I still get a steady stream of referrals from caseworkers, social workers, healthcare providers, and educators who are working directly with low-income households and can identify those without computers --and I still hustle laptops and funding for this program because I know how life-changing computers can be.

On average, each donated laptop costs us $50 to wipe and refurbish (this includes cost of the KillDisk wiping software, any replacement power cords or batteries needed, and fresh copies of Windows and Office). We're very fortunate that local companies and community supporters still donate their old working laptops to us, and we're grateful we're able to get licenses for Windows and Office for only $6 each through a partnership with another nonprofit working directly with Microsoft.

Here's the challenge: I currently have a stockpile of around 50 laptops in my office, but no funds to refurbish them --and the referrals from our agency partners are still coming in so things are at a bit of a standstill. I need your help.

September is my birthday month (I'm known as a Turbo Virgo in certain circles) so I'm hoping that in support of this life-changing work we're doing, instead of buying me cake or gifts you'll consider making a donation to our laptop refurbishment fund. Your donation will make a HUGE impact on someone's life, please never underestimate that. Thanks for reading my story and thanks for being my friend!

*NOTE: The video at the top of this page was created by phenomenal videographer Jamie Perez of Beyond Words Productions as part of our application for the Force for Positive Change award in 2022, which we won because only Jamie could deftly turn a few simple photos and portions of a Zoom interview into something that would bring a room of conference attendees to tears. She takes people's stories and turns them into MAGIC!! Work with her if you can. 🥰

Shawn's Birthday Fundraiser for Laptop Refurb!

By DANEnet, Inc

Shawn's Birthday Fundraiser for Laptop Refurb!

Check out this video by Jamie Perez about our Laptop Refurbishment Program