The new Refurb-specific website is ReFurbProject.org.
Yes, we educate folks at STUG, on how to Get more out of your screen time™, but perhaps the section of our group we call Refurb, is our proudest achievement.
Let us tell you a bit about it:
The Refurb Group began renovating computers in February 2004. Since inception, over 25,000 computers have been donated to our community. Recipients are a diverse population. They include disadvantaged school children, low-income adults/seniors, individuals in recovery programs and others trying to emerge from homelessness or other problems. In 2013 the program was expanded to provide computers directly to students in the Sarasota County school system. Here is a look at our shop by Fox13. Click to view video of the Refurb Shop
The Refurb Project works with directly with many local non-profits. Counselors from these organizations identify those in need and coordinate getting the computers to the individuals. The Children’s Guardian Fund is one that the Refurbishing Project works very closely with to get the computers into the hands of area foster youth.
Environmental benefit:
The Refurb effort is also a noteworthy recycling program which avoids adding tons of computers to the landfills. Our estimate, based on an average weight of 8 pounds per computer and 26,000 computers refurbished, has saved more than 70 tons of computers from ending up in the Sarasota landfill.
Equipment Donations accepted:
Computers, smartphones, monitors, printers, tablets, peripherals (hard drives, CD/DVD readers/writers and other computer items) on the Windows or Apple platforms. We can wipe your computer or smartphone, removing all your personal files, just let us know when you drop it off and give us your access codes. If in doubt as to whether we can use your underloved tech item, bring it to us. If we cannot use it, we will see that it is recycled responsively.
To donate financially:
In today’s world not having a computer (laptop) can be a disadvantage for students or those looking for a job. STUG Refurbishing Project addresses this issue by donating reconditioned computers to individuals and non-profits in the community. To fulfill the requests for computers, the Refurb Project accepts donated computer equipment. The equipment is checked, cleaned, and has new software loaded on to it prior to going to its new home. Up-to-date software and equipment is paid for solely through your donations. If you’d like to be a part of our mission, you can donate online here.
Location: 3949 Sawyer Road ∙ Sarasota 34233, Hours: Mon-Wed-Fri 10am – Noon (no appointment needed). For other times please call ahead 941-539-7401 just to be sure someone will be there.
To Request a computer:
If an individual or non-profit is in need of a computer or tech equipment and cannot afford to purchase one, the Refurb Group can help. Fill out the applicable form at Request Computer. The request will be reviewed and, if accepted, the computer will be provided. Please provide a phone number with the request so we can contact you when the computer is ready. Individuals will pick up the computers at our shop. In the case of non-profits the counselor may provide the contact information of the recipient who we will contact or they may pick up the computer and deliver it to the recipient.
For more information: Refurb’s email is refurb@thestug.org and our phone is 941-539-7401
Here are some of the organizations who have received computers over the last 20 years:
21st Century After School Program + 4 Hope Communities AARP + ABA Academy + Atwater Elementary School + Beyond the Spectrum +Booker Elementary School + Career Source Suncoast clients + Children First + Children’s Guardian Fund + Community Foundation + Dreamers After School + Education Foundation + Emma Booker + ESOL + Faulhaber Fab Lab + Florida Center for Children and Family Services of Venice + Foundation for Dreams + Girls Inc + Goodwill clients + Guardian Ad Litem + Harvest House + Heron Creek Elementry School + Historic Spanish Point + Indian Festival + Jefferson Center + Joseph Recovery Center + Laurel Civic Center + Literary Council of Sarasota + Living With Dignity + Mothers Helping Mothers + Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church + Newtown Janie Poe Housing Project + Newtown Masonic Temple + Newtown Children’s Preschool + Nur Academy + Oak Park School + Our Mother’s House + Phillippi Shores First Grade students +Project 180 + Purpose House + Red Cross + Red Cross Ham Radio + Resurrection House + Riverview High School + Salvation Army clients + Sarasota County Sheriff [Re-entry Pod] + Sarasota Housing Authority + Sarasota Native America + Sarasota Music Archive + Sarasota School Students + Sarasota Suncoast Academy + Sarasota Virtual School students + SPARCC + STC students + Students Leadership Academy in Venice + Suncoast Polytech students + Suncoast School of Innovative Studies + Suncoast Tech College students + Take Stock in Children – Manatee +Take Stock in Children – Sarasota + True Worship Outreach Ministry + Tuttle Elementary 2nd Grade students + Voice + Wee Care Christian Academy + Wilkinson Elementary School + Woodland Middle School + Women’s Resource Center
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