About CPR 4 Computers
In the Fall of 2023, I had a couple of Mac desktop computers sitting around in my office doing nothing. They were too good to throw out, but I did not know what to do with them.
Then, for reasons I don’t remember, I watched a YouTube video about Flex, a version of Linux that supposedly ran on old computers. Maybe if I installed Flex on my old computers they might be of use to Lucy’s Hearth.
I called my friend Mark Gorman, who at the time was the President of the Board of Lucy’s Hearth. We had coffee with the Executive Director of Lucy’s and I asked if they were interested in a couple of desktop computers.
I explained that I thought I could resuscitate my old computers with Flex. I also wondered if, perhaps, we could get computer donations for Lucy’s from the community.
The answer was a resounding, “Yes.”
I explained that Flex was free and, optimistically, I thought I could use Flex to resuscitate any old computer.
Mark changed the the project forever by suggesting that if we could get people to donate old laptop computers, Lucy’s could provide them to the residents when they transition back into the community.
So, the project morphed from me donating a couple of desktops to a major solicitation of computers from the community. The project is unique in that we do not ask people for money, just their old, unused computers.
For techies, most of the details are covered in the Technical section. The story of the change from Flex to Mint is described there along with installation details.
We announced the project to the public in December 2023 and the response was Immediate and generous.
Lucy’s Hearth plans to rehouse around 30 families in 2024, so we need many more computers.
Please consider donating you old computers to Lucy’s Hearth.
We take all brands of computers and of any age.
About Lucy’s Hearth
Lucy’s Hearth is a 24-hour emergency and transitional shelter in Newport County serving children and their families who are experiencing homelessness. For more information, please visit Lucy’s Hearth website.
Serving the community for 40 years, Lucy’s Hearth provides wraparound programs that support families by helping them to regain self-sufficiency and break cycles of homelessness, hopefully for good. While in residence, families undergo a comprehensive assessment, create short and long-term goals, and engage in self-sufficiency programming, which includes:
- daily life skills groups,
- financial literacy classes,
- parenting classes,
- housing locator training, and
- landlord-tenant education programs.
All residents receive weekly case management, referrals to community resources for medical and dental care, education and training program, and mental health care.
Lucy’s Hearth is also committed to the success of the children residing at Lucy’s Hearth. We support our children by coordinating closely with school department personnel, local childcare providers, and before and after school programs to ensure good communication and meeting attendance. Our part-time Children’s Activity Coordinator assists with homework and facilitates on-site and off-site activities for children of all ages.
In 2023, through our emergency shelter program, Lucy’s Hearth served 105 people in 33 families and in 2024 proposes to serve 140 people in 35 families.
When families move back into the community, they need computers to help manage their daily lives. All of the services transitioning families require to survive are online: health records, employment assistance, social services, school records, and children’s homework.
The CPR 4 Computers project provides resuscitated computers for the families as they transition back into the community.
These old computers were typically headed for the landfill, so we are also helping the environment.