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Computer Recycling Program

Jack, a high school volunteer, assists in rebuilding a computer.Erin, a high school volunteer, gets her hands dirty rebuilding a donated PC.

Local area high school students, Jack and Erin, donate their time rebuilding donated PCs (click here for more images of our volunteers in action )

Welcome to the Computer Recycling Program at IndependenceFirst

Our program cleans and refurbishes donated computers and makes them available to people with disabilities.  A largely volunteer run department, we are dependent on the generosity of individuals and companies to provide us with donated PCs and related technologies.  We accept donated computers*, monitors*, and other PC hardware which is refurbished and given free to persons with disabilities who otherwise couldn’t afford their own computers. Computer training and resources are provided as well to recipients.

If you represent a company and would like to learn more about how we can assist with your IT asset disposal needs, please call us at 414-291-7520.

Benefits of Donating a Computer:

  • Tax deduction
  • Environmentally responsible
  • Provides essential equipment for people with disabilities:  
    • Obtain a computer they otherwise couldn't afford
    • Develop crucial job pre-skills
    • Communicate with peers
    • Use the internet to gather information
    • Plan transportation in advance
    • Participate in the community without concern of physical barriers

This program actively seeks individual volunteers, students, as well as corporate IT volunteers, to assist program staff with cleaning, programming, and refurbishing donated computers.

Donations are accepted at our office in Milwaukee during business hours. If you have any questions, please contact us : PCdonations@independencefirst.org or phone Voice/TTY (414) 291-7520 540 S 1st Street, Milwaukee, WI  53204

Corporate IT Donations

Businesses may benefit from our programs:

  • Free – We do not charge for pickup and hauling of your computers, monitors, printers and accessories
  • Secure – Data on hard drives are securely deleted in our Computer Recycling Lab before handing out to our customers
  • Save the environment – Donate and help a worthy cause while participating in the green initiative.
  • Enhancing someone's quality of life – Our clients use our computers to find jobs, create jobs, research and understand their disabilities and to communicate with family and friends.
  • Potential tax deduction

For more information about donating a computer, please email us at: PCdonations@independencefirst.org

*Minimum PC requirements: PIII and above, 256MG RAM memory or better, CRT or flat screen monitors 17" minimum - please call us if you have questions.