Last week, The Christian Post reported on a Florida church that donated 700 pairs of shoes to a local homeless shelter. The church was certainly well meaning, but I think they missed the mark.
Considering the 200-bed emergency shelter offered medical and dental care, psychiatric services, educational services, substance abuse programs, computer classes and job interview preparation, I highly doubt that 700 pairs of shoes where, in the words of the church pastor, “not a better way we could impact part of our city than if we would just one day ask the guys to wear their best shoes to church, to take them off, leave them at the altar and go home barefoot.”
I don’t think so.
Instead of bringing their “best shoes,” they could have simply brought $20 (a low mark for your “best shoes”) and donated $14,000 to the shelter. I’m sure that would have made a much greater impact!
Like many non-profits, I am sure the shelter was happy to receive these 700 pairs of shoes. Most non-profits are happy with anything they can get their hands on as they they generally operate as “bottom feeders.” This story, however, reminds me of personal conversations I’ve had with social outreach, non-profit organizations, who receive old, outdated technology.
Non-Profits & Technology Donations
Mixed-matched and outdated computer gear and programs are often a popular donation to food pantries, homeless shelters, and other non-profits. Not good enough for business or home, but certainly good enough for those operating on a shoestring budget and tending to the needs of “the least of these,” right?
Wrong.
If it isn’t good enough for business, it’s not good enough for non-profits.
Although these donations are accepted opened-armed, it often leads to inefficiency and poor performance. If we really want to help our local homeless shelter, church or non-profit organization by providing some technology, it would be better for us to show our support by rallying on their behalf and raise money to purchase good equipment for them to do the good work they’re doing.
If it isn’t good enough for you to keep using it yourself, how is it going to help the local shelter?
I think we can do better than this.
[Image via wizzer2801 via Compfight cc]
Adam Shields says
I completely agree. Although there are good uses for some older computers. I know I have stripped down older computers, loaded a simple OS and created drone workstations that were only good for web browsing. And then put them in schools for students that needed a computer to do educational drills. The computing requirements were not high and these stipped down older comptuers worked just fine.
But I also made sure I did all of the work of loading the computers with the software and made sure the teacher was able to to the basic maintenance on them. Some of them only lasted a few months. But it was better than nothing.
I think the important part is talking to the group you are trying to help and giving them what they need, not what you have left over.
Eric Dye says
As usual, Adam, you’ve said it very well. Thank you!