Donations of used computer equipment can enable teachers to provide hands-on experience to their Computer Engineering or Networking students. If you are in need of donated computers, there are several approaches that may help you generate donations in your community:

• First, see whether your school system is retiring computers from a lab or classrooms. These may be easy to collect and transport, and give you the advantage of having several computers with similar specs.
  
  
• Send a news tip to your local newspaper. Let them know you have a Computer Engineering or Networking program where students are learning high-tech skills, and you could use some help from local businesses. You're more likely to get coverage if you are in a community served by a smaller newspaper, but even larger publications may respond if you let them know you're looking for help from the community.
  
  
• Talk to civic groups. Organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Exchange Club, Kiwanis and others are often looking for visitors who can come talk to the group. See if local groups would be interested in a presentation from your students - and use the opportunity to let members know you could put their used equipment to good use!
  
  
• Contact companies directly. Identify companies in your community that may be large enough that they retire five or more computers at a time. Find out who handles equipment and resources, and let that person know who you are and what you need.

However you solicit used computers for your classroom, make sure you specify minimum specs that you can use - you don't want to become a dumping ground.

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