[Press Release] : City of Columbia, Voluntary Action Center & Downtown Optimist announce seventh annual ‘Homes for Computers’ Program

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2010

CONTACT: Cindy Mustard
Executive Director
Voluntary Action Center
(573) 449-6959

City of Columbia, Voluntary Action Center & Downtown Optimist announce
seventh annual ‘Homes for Computers’ Program
								
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - January is not everyone’s favorite time of
year. However, the annual “Homes for Computers” giveaway is a bright
spot during this usually cold and dreary month. The city of Columbia,
the Voluntary Action Center (VAC) and the Downtown Optimist Club partner
to provide surplus (used) computers and equipment (monitors, keyboards,
mouse etc.) to eligible VAC clients as part of the “Homes for
Computers” Program. This year, about 30 computers will be given away
by a drawing to clients enrolled in VAC programs/services.
	Applications are now available at the VAC office, 800 N.
Providence, Suite 220, and must be completed and returned to the VAC
office during the enrollment period Jan. 11-29. (Please note, the VAC
office will be moving on Jan. 16 to its new location at 403 A Vandiver,
next to the Department of Motor Vehicles office.) If there are more
applications received than computers available, a drawing will be held
at the VAC office. VAC staff will determine eligibility, date/sign the
applications and enter them in the drawing. Eligibility requirements are
as follows:
●	Current VAC Client
●	Family consists of at least one child in grades K-12
●	Child is enrolled in Columbia public schools
●	Family does not have computer in the home
	Winning clients will be notified the week of Feb. 1. Computers
will be distributed to the winning clients by the Downtown Optimist Club
on Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. -12 p.m. at the Downtown Optimist Club
Building, 1201 Grand Ave.
	The “Homes for Computers” Program was approved by City
Council in December 2003. Prior to this, the city disposed of surplus
computers through the University of Missouri Surplus Property Division.
The city determined that donating the computers to families in Columbia
was a much better alternative. To date, 258 computers have been given to
worthy families through this program.
	Unfortunately, manpower and security issues limit this program
to the distribution of surplus city computers only. However, citizens
who wish to donate their unused/unwanted computers may do so by
contacting the following agencies:  	FreeCycle - 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleColumbiaMO/ 
	Columbia Computer Center - 1122 Lakeview Ave., (573) 442-9445,
accepts working computer parts and monitors less than 10 years old
	 Dell Recycle Program - recycle or donate, www.dell.com  
	Mid-MO Recycling - 6104 Brown Station Road, (573) 474-3997,
accepts most items at no charge 
	Staples - 115 Conley Road, accepts electronic items ($10 fee
applies) and provides pickup of larger items too heavy to bring to the
store (additional $10 fee applies) 
	Questions regarding applications should be directed to Cindy
Mustard, executive director, VAC, (573) 449-6959.

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