Students at Eden Prairie High School Organize Tech Drive to Tackle E-Waste
Do you have old electronics gathering dust at home? If so, you can make a difference by donating them to the Grateful for Gadgets Tech Drive, a new initiative led by students at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS).
From November 11 to November 24, the tech drive will accept various electronic items, including chargers, phones, computers, and televisions, among others. These donations will be sent to Free Geek Twin Cities, a thrift store in Minneapolis that will refurbish the items and sell them at reasonable prices.
Jia Chenchlani and Anisha Surily, two juniors at EPHS and members of DECA, are at the helm of this project. They also operate Tech to Transform, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing computer science education for everyone.
Chenchlani mentions that computer science literacy is about both knowledge and access. While Eden Prairie Schools require students to complete technology courses for graduation, many districts in Minnesota do not have the same requirement. To bridge this gap, Tech to Transform is engaging in community outreach, including an event planned at a middle school in Chaska. The organization also aims to encourage state lawmakers to make tech credits a requirement in Minnesota schools.
"Digital literacy is essential today," Chenchlani states. "No matter what career path you choose, technology plays a role. If you don’t understand how to use it wisely, it could be a disadvantage."
The Grateful for Gadgets Tech Drive aligns with Tech to Transform’s goal of making technology accessible by reducing costs, according to Surily. After the drive concludes, all collected items will be handed over to Free Geek in Minneapolis, where they will be refurbished and sold at low prices, making technology affordable for many.
Free Geek Twin Cities has a physical store located between the Seward and Longfellow neighborhoods, as well as an online shop. They offer various refurbished items, from modern gadgets to vintage tech. Surily adds that if any donated items can’t be repaired, they will at least be recycled or used for parts in an environmentally responsible way.
Donation Information
The donation drive runs from November 11 to November 24, and there are three locations where people can drop off their items:
- Eden Prairie High School (North Doors): Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Eden Prairie Community Center (Lobby): Daily, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- PROP Shop of Eden Prairie: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
What Can You Donate?
Accepted Items (any age or condition):
- Computers, laptops, tablets
- Keyboards, mice, chargers
- Phones, digital cameras
- VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays
- Video game consoles and games
- Electronic toys and games
Items Not Accepted:
- Solar panels, televisions over 55 inches
- Large printers, appliances, light bulbs
- Smoke detectors, gas-powered devices
For questions, you can reach out to Tech to Transform via email at techtotransform23@gmail.com or through their Instagram at @tech_to_transform.
This initiative not only promotes tech recycling and responsible disposal but also supports the community by providing affordable tech solutions. Together, let’s make a difference!
