Nonprofit is quarantining donations for refurbishment in support of online learning during COVID-19 pandemic
EPI-HAB Phoenix, Inc., a not-for-profit company focused on providing meaningful employment for individuals with epilepsy and other challenges, recognizes the power of community and the impact companies can have on organizations and individuals for the greater good. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, EPI-HAB is proudly donating 25 pallets of secure storage space to AZ StRUT.
Formed in 1997 by founding sponsors Intel & Motorola, Arizona StRUT is a partnership between local schools and businesses in which students get valuable hands-on training refurbishing used computer equipment. The equipment is then donated to schools, churches and charities throughout Arizona. Last year alone, the nonprofit donated more than $456,367 worth of equipment. A secondary benefit of the program is environmental, as the refurbished equipment has been diverted away from landfills.
Partnering with Arizona Technology Council, AZ StRUT recently launched a community laptop drive initiative for students in Greater Phoenix. The initiative aims to support online learning during the pandemic by seeking community donations of laptops and chargers that can be refurbished. An estimated 100,000 computers are needed by Arizona students who are learning remotely due to the virus outbreak.
EPI-HAB’s contribution to the initiative is to quarantine incoming equipment for 72 hours in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Donating secure storage space to a highly-regarded nonprofit like AZ StRUT provides us with an additional opportunity to impact the community in a meaningful and important way,” said Torrey Rogers, President of EPI-HAB. “This is a challenging time for so many. Despite all of the hardships, the spirit of giving back is alive and well in the Phoenix community. We are humbled to have the chance to help.”
EPI-HAB and AZ StRUT have developed a strong, rewarding relationship over the years. AZ StRUT has been storing used computers at EPI-HAB since 2012, and during EPI-HAB’s “Six Decades of Service” giveback celebration, the organization presented $1,000 to AZ StRUT to cover student tuition at the organization’s “Techie Camp.”
At the camp, students learn to tear down a laptop computer, reassemble it and configure it. Every camper also gets to take the functional laptop they’ve been building home with them. EPI-HAB’s donation funded the tuition for 50 students who were unlikely to have a computer available at home.
“We appreciate our long-term relationship with EPI-HAB,” said Tom Mehlert, Executive Director of AZ StRUT. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic created two different challenges. EPI-HAB provided assistance that helped us address both. With schools closed, we lost much of our refurbishing effort while at the same time attempting to address a dramatic demand for computers from Arizona students. Not only did EPI-HAB assist with warehouse storage but also provided workspace that allowed us to refurbish when 90 percent of our other facilities were closed. In six weeks, we were able to configure and distribute 1,300 laptops valued at approximately $150,000 to Arizona schools at a time when the need was greatest. We could not do this without EPI-HAB’s help! We are grateful for this partnership and are looking forward to adding computer configuration to the work done by EPI-HAB employees.”
If your organization has laptops you’d like to donate to the drive, AZ StRUT representatives will pick up quantities of 40 or more laptops. Submit a pick-up request at https://azstrut.org/pick-up-request.
About EPI-HAB Phoenix, Inc.
EPI-HAB brings more than 60 years of experience and energy to fulfillment, assembly and inspection, full-service bulk mail processing, and storage. The organization was founded in 1958 when a group of business and medical professionals came together to provide meaningful employment to individuals with epilepsy. As the medical industry made strides in the control of epileptic seizures, EPI-HAB (Epileptic Habitat) welcomed individuals with other challenges. Over the years, EPI-HAB has always focused on the abilities of its employees, not their disabilities. Its team performs valued work for businesses, large and small, assisting them with a wide variety of jobs.
