FreeGeek Chicago

This is a great charity where you can donate used computers and they will put them to good use or responsibly recycle them.
They can give you a donation letter you can use for tax purposes.

It’s hard to find a place to recycle an old crt monitor… freegeek is the place to do it!

A Chicago Institution!
This place makes a perfect story for the personal interest section of the New York Times or the bottom of the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
FreeGeek is serving numerous important causes which include helping education, providing computers to the needy, recycling used equipment, skills training, and above all, volunteer opportunities to aid them in their mission.
I say it’s a Chicago institution because, once you find the place, it’s a computer scrap yard in a dungeon. A cool find!
And the volunteer opportunities are perfect for someone like me – I must admit that my mechanical aptitude is much greater than my soup kitchen aptitude.

If you need a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer, forget Best Buy. Forget the internet. Come to Free Geek and get a quality computer for a better price than you’d pay anywhere else. Best of all, your money is going to a good cause: bridging the digital divide. You’re battling prejudice and poverty and getting a good computer at the same time.
Low on cash? Volunteer here for 24 hours and get a free computer. They’ll teach you everything you need to know.

Learning code has changed my life and career, so needless to say that FreeGeek means the world to me. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful in teaching me.
Code, which is something that can be difficult and frustrating to learn alone, is so exciting and empowering when you learn in a community like this. Thank you FreeGeek!
PS. David Eads is my hero and he can be yours too.

Pay it forward!

My Valentine’s gift to my husband was cleaning out the collection of computers and laptops that I’ve squirreled away through the last 15 years. The business model for this not-​for-​profit community made my donation a no-​brainer! They recycle used computers and parts to provide functional computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those who want them! If they can’t use the parts, they will send them to a place that will dispose in the most sound way. Everyone was so friendly. The basement venue was über-​organized and drew me in. The volunteers made it obvious that this was a fun community to belong to and learn with. FreeGeek Chicago — I am your über fan!

I went the other day with my fiancé to volunteer for service hours. The overall experience was a good one. There were a lot more people than I expected to see volunteering and the group was very diverse. The space is the only downfall it’s not a welcoming space. The good thing they have a ton of things so donations must be very going very well for their organization. The concept is also pretty cool and if you volunteer enough of your time you get credit towards a computer. This is a great cause to be involved in of you are looking to be environmentally friendly (like me) but don’t like the outdoors (like me). A great way to lesson our e-​waste. I definitely think it’s worth spending a few Sundays there doing your part for a good cause.

Best place (I’ve only been to one) for parts and accessories and other used computer stuff. Staff very helpful. I only needed one little thing but from the looks of it, I assume there’s really nothing you could NOT find there.

I dropped off some electronics for donation and recycling and the people working were really nice. Getting down to the shop is a little sketchy the first time (I read ‘watch your step’ on the sign simultaneous to missing the first step down). But overall this is a great resource to have in or near your neighborhood. Plus it’s a non profit grassroots organization doing good things. Keep up the good work, FreeGeek!

I participated in the training program and was glad that I did. I had no prior computer experience, other than as a user. In the allotted hours I saw and participate in the whole process of refirbishing computers and getting them ready for resale to the public. The staff is very friendly and knowledgable. They are very good about getting you involved to the level you are comfortable.
The orientation starts out with a very compelling video on the impact of electronic waste and what a threat it is to the environment and even to the previous owners of the equipment. Free Geek strives to a higher standard of recycling and I plan to bring my computer there to be recycled when I am through with it.
The location is a Logan Square commercial space basement, so it is rugged and no-​frills. You can get desktop computers and also accessories such as monitors, drives, speakers, and other random stuff as it is available.

When I read that FreeGeek «is a not-​for-​profit community organization that recycles used computers and parts to provide functional computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those who want them», I said, «HEY! This is the perfect place to donate my computer!»
I had a pretty old computer –possibly more than 10 years old –but in perfect working order. While it may be a bit slow for the internet, it would be great for people to use to create their resume. After researching countless options such as Abt or Best Buy (either too far or too many «rules»), I called FreeGeek. I asked, «Can I just drop off my computer or are there any rules? Remove the hardrive? Do a somersault? Run around the block 5 times?» He indicated you literally just knock on the door and a friendly volunteer comes out to get the computer from you.
That’s exactly what happened! Friendly volunteers, quick service –and it’s going to a good cause! Thank for taking my old computer, FreeGeek!