We are looking for donations of working Dual and Quad Core computers and related computer components such as SATA hard drives, DDR memory sticks, motherboards, power supplies and video cards.
To arrange for larger donations, please complete the donation form and email it for arrangements: cr@theworkingcentre.org.
Please bring as little packaging and boxes as possible and avoid bringing Styrofoam.
What Happens To Donated Hard Drives?
We will never boot from a hard drive before it has been wiped of data. Hard drives we are going to keep are overwritten several times in the process of testing. If we are not going to reuse a hard drive, it is physically destroyed in our facility before we send it to a responsible e-waste recycler.
We use a program called Darik’s Boot and Nuke to wipe your data from the hard drive using the Department of Defence-short (3 pass) standard. For SSDs and flash-based media we use PartedMagic's Secure Erase tool. If you would like to erase your hard drive you can use one of the following programs:
Wishlist
Computer Component (Most Wanted):
- PCIe Video cards w/ 1GB+ and GDDR5
- 120GB+ SSDs (Solid State Drives)
- RAM: 2GB+ DDR3/DDR4 Desktop RAM & SO-DIMMs.
- Laptops - (Core i3 or newer)
- Hard Drives: 500GB+ (SATA) (3.5" & 2.5")
- USB Web cams (especially 720p+)
- 802.11 g/n Wireless PCI/PCIe cards or USB drives
- Working desktop laser printers
Please note the list above is our "most wanted" list. We are happy to take older donations, but they may not be reused as quickly. Our wish list in PDF form: CR-Nov-2021-Wishlist
Tools Wish List:
- Magnifiers
- Anti-static tools
- Small screwdrivers for laptop and cell phone disassembly
- Anti-static bags for components
- Plastic CPU trays
- Hard Drive storage like the container shown below
Acknowledgements
With many thanks to our donors, we appreciate the continuous contribution of all our donors and would like to express our gratitude and acknowledge the businesses who have donated computers to us in the past.
- IGLOO Software
- Tacoma Engineers
- Desire 2 Learn
- Campana Systems, Inc.
- Nautalex Business Services, Inc.
- CIGI (The Centre for International Governance Innovation)
- Delta Elevator Co, Ltd.
- Region of Waterloo Library
- Encore Print Solutions
A special thanks to ALL donors who have donated to our project recently during the pandemic, and in the past!
