As much as the holidays in the U.S. have become a consumer feeding frenzy, we prefer to think of them as a time for sharing. If you have hardware or software that you no longer use, consider donating it to a worthy cause. In so doing, you could be supporting a non-profit organization, enabling a family to afford a computer, or assisting a disabled person in gaining productive employment. Further, by donating old equipment, you support the ecological goals of recycling and reusing.
No doubt there are many worthy organizations involved in reusing old computers. In searching the Web, I located the PEP National Directory of Computer Recycling Programs, which links to many organizations that accept donated computer equipment and pass it on to worthy causes in several different countries. The U.S. list has a few nationwide organizations, then breaks the listings out by state.
<http://www.microweb.com/pepsite/Recycle/recycle _index.html>
I also found a site called Floppies for Kiddies, which provides an address to which you can send extra 3.5-inch floppy disks. Student volunteers at Louisiana's Fontainebleau High School reformat the disks, and the project operates in partnership with UPS to distribute the disks to schools and non-profit organizations that need them. As I mail gifts to friends and relatives next week, I'll also be sending our complete collection of AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy, eWorld, and EarthLink disks to: USA CityLink Project, Attn: Floppies for Kiddies, 20349 Highway 36, Covington LA 70433, USA.