Hey there Don,

Many thanks for your note. Indeed, Habitat for Humanity has provided me with a lot of inspiration over the years — the work that you and your colleagues are doing is incredible. And, fear not, many organizations face the same situation that you are describing: the old, rusty, cans and string analogy is one I’ve heard often.

The first thing that I would recommend is finding a local non-profit technology assistance provider to assess your needs. The Non-profit Technology Enterprise Network (N-TEN) is a trade association of folks that do similar work to what I do in the US and they provide a great service called Techfinder, which lets you search for help in your area.

The second thing that I’d do is look at the site techsoup for information about donated hardware and other advice about software. For example, through techsoup most non-profits are able to get discounted or donated software (if non-free software is what you're after).

Finally, when looking for new hardware, it’s important to balance the spirit of re-use and recycle with the reality of technology — the cost of desktop computers has reached a point where it’s possibly less expensive to purchase a new computer (often for under $200) than it is to invest in upgrading out-of-date hardware. Many organizations like FreeGeek will accept your old hardware for reclamation and use the reclamation process to train people in hardware repair. However, if you are looking for hardware donations in your area, you can reach out to your local computer enthusiasts clubs for help (the Linux Enthusiasts and Professionals of Central Florida for example). Another approach would be to post a wanted ad on Craigslist in the city closet to you.

Hope that helps a bit and please keep us updated on your progress.

Phillip.