Refurbished laptops, desktop computers, smartphones and some gaming consoles will be on sale this Saturday at the Goodwill store in Augusta, as part of an effort by Goodwill to get the technology into the hands of low-income Mainers and show them how to use it.

The sale will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the store at 5 Senator Way. Technology experts also will be on hand to help customers find products that are right for their needs, according to a news release from Goodwill.

The technology access program was launched recently by Goodwill, and computers will be available for as little as $100, the news release indicates. All the computers will have an operating system and Microsoft Office software installed on them.

“This program is so important to families around Maine,” said Joe Pooler, manager of the initiative. “We want to make sure everyone who needs a computer for work, school or leisure can access one. Augusta has a lot of struggling families and a university, so we know it’s a high-need area for quality technology. We’ll be there all day to help pair people with good computers. Each person will have a chance to test drive all of the available computers before choosing which one to buy.”

There are income guidelines for who can buy a computer through the program, according to the Goodwill website. A single person must have an annual income of $22,980 or less, for example, and a four-person family must make $47,100 or less.

A spokeswoman for Goodwill said buyers will not need to show proof of their income or sign up for the event beforehand, but she recommended that interested customers arrive at the event as early as possible.

She also said computers can be donated at Goodwill stores at any time. All donated computers are cleaned to U.S. Department of Defense standards, repaired and packaged by Goodwill employees.

“GoodTech (as the program is called) is all about work,” Pooler said. “Refurbishing these otherwise-wasted electronics provides jobs and technology job training, which is scarce here in Maine, plus the computers go home with people who can use them for their work or to find work. On top of that, the money we make goes back to helping others find work. That’s what we’re all about.”


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: