This recycling project is in preparation for Indiana Net Literacy Week, where Senator Bayh and Lugar are Honorary Co-Chairpersons –
Do you have an older computer or monitor and didn’t know where to dispose of it – or did you want to donate a computer to a nonprofit so that it could be repurposed for underserved youths, families, and seniors – and receive a tax write off? Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Fishers have united with Net Literacy/Senior Connects and Asset Forwarding to reduce toxins from being placed in landfills and are conducting a FREE county-wide computer drive.
Computer Donation Schedule
- July 19th – Noblesville Public Safety Building – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (for Noblesville and Hamilton County)
- July 20th – Westfield Town Hall – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (for Westfield
- July 21st – Fishers’ Train Station – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (for Fishers)
- July 22nd – )- Carmel City Hall – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (for Carmel)
- July 18th through July 22nd – Asset Forwarding, any day during this week 7965 Allison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM for any towns or cities (228-9091)
Net Literacy and Senior Connects are nonprofits run by student volunteers that donate computers to underserved youths, families, and seniors in Hamilton County and throughout Indiana. Asset Forwarding is a secure data elimination facility whose businesses includes logistics, repurposing, and EPA compliant recycling – and have partnered to help Net Literacy as a community service project.
“The Senior Connects program has been a wonderful asset to the senior citizens of our community. This program serves the important purpose of helping seniors stay connected with their family and friends through Internet and emails. The City of Carmel is pleased to allow the organization to use Carmel City Hall as a computer drop off to aid in the continuation of this valuable group.”
– Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard
Everyone contributing will receive a receipt for their donation, and a portion of the reusable computers are donated in the community from which they originated. As an example, the Westfield School system donated 100 computers to Net Literacy earlier this year, and 50 of them will be repurposed to Westfield residents. Also, HUD and Section 8 Apartments (with greater than 50 units) will receive a computer so that computer accessibility is enhanced throughout the county. Senior Connects has previously provided all independent and assisted living facilities computers within Hamilton County.
“In today’s world, it’s extremely important for people of all ages to be computer literate. Not only does it allow people to easily access a wealth of information, but it’s also a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. I applaud Senior Connects for everything they do to help people feel more confident in working with computers and the Internet.”
– Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear
In February, each of these cities and towns officially issued proclamations specifying February 21st a “Intergenerational for Youths to Help Adults With Computer and Net Literacy,” and PrimeLife Enrichment and Senior Connects teamed together to answer computer questions, provide free computer monitors, and free computer software that was made available to all Hamilton County residents at PrimeLife Enrichment’s facility.
“The Town of Fishers is proud to be involved with Senior Connects and its work. We support encouraging youth, adults, and senior residents of Fishers to become computer and Internet literate to improve their quality-of-life, and empowering citizens through technology to be better connected with friends and family.”
– Fishers Town Council President Scott A. Faultless
Senior Connects has taught residents and provided or expanded computer facilities in 70 independent and assisted living facilities in during the past twelve months in Indiana, benefiting almost 11,000 Hoosiers. However, Internet illiteracy issues are not solely the domain of senior citizens. Underserved youths, children that have not been taught Internet safety and families living in apartments with public assistance often have an especially difficult time obtaining access to computers. While Senior Connects Corporation remains a youth-managed 501(c)(3) corporation; now, the scope of enhancing computer and Internet literacy to children, families, and seniors has been expanded through the establishment of Net Literacy, an organization designed to provide adult mentoring to Senior Connects and directly manage the Internet safety programs, distribution of computers to schools for families on public assistance and are unable to purchase a computer for their elementary school aged children to do homework, and for families living in HUD and Section 8 apartments that have 50 or more dwelling units. The Indiana Legislature has passed Resolution 85, Indiana Net Literacy Week, and Senator Lugar and Bayh have agreed to serve as Co-Chairpersons. Included in the partnership is the AARP, the National Association of Student Councils, and the Urban Leagues, among other national and local organizations. Indiana Net Literacy Week will take place in January, and will be the first coordinated “Internet literacy” program every conducted in any of the 50 states.
“Westfield is proud to be a part of the Senior Connects project to collect computers for seniors. We feel strongly that the seniors of our community should have the opportunity to connect to the internet to stay involved with community and national events.”
– Jerry Rosenberger, Westfield Town Manager
You can help during the Hamilton County Computer Recycling Week by dropping off a computer at the city or town halls during the designated day as described in the chart depicted above, or any day that week at Asset Forwarding. Net Literacy and Senior Connects appreciates Asset Forwarding’s graciousness and generosity by agreeing to assist Senior Connects’ and Net Literacy’s recycling program as a community service project. Additional information on Asset Forwarding can be found at www.assetforwarding.com and additional information on Senior Connects/Net Literacy can be found at www.seniorconnects.org.
