After several years of service to the community, the Charitable Computing Ministry (CCM) of St. Susanna Parish of Mason has announced it has terminated its operations of accepting used computers and refurbishing them for use by local charities for use as they choose, even to share with their patrons.  This decision comes after having paused operations since mid-November.  Our decision considered the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the charity community and their ability to interact with patrons in the use of the computer.

Over the course of the ministry, more than 500 usable computers and devices (phones and tablets) were donated to CCM over the 3 years of operation.  We had four wonderful corporate sponsors (GenSuite, Ryan Professional Services, Fameccanica North America, and StormGuard) who were wonderful in their donations of current and commercial grade equipment.  Those and parishioner donated computers and devices were rebuilt and went out to about 20 charity organizations in our area.  The largest of those donations went to Catholic Charities Sourthwestern Ohio (69), Reach Out Lakota (68) St. Vincent de Paul in many locations (58), Winton Hills Community Council (46 + 8 phones), Comboni Missionaries (45), St. Julie Billiart Parish (21) and St. Leo’s of Cincinnati (15) plus many to other local charity organizations.

Recognizing that CCM provided a valued service of collecting and wiping the hard drives, we suspect we will be missed.  That said, below is a list of some alternative firms and charities that may be willing to accept donated computers.   We believe that some of them may “wipe” hard drives in one form or another; however, you are advised to inquire directly with them to ensure you are happy with their procedures.  This list is from our experience and may have changed since we last interacted with them:
 

• St. Vincent de Paul zdonation and Retail Center: 1065 Reading Rd, Mason; Phone: 513.492.7940

 

• Goodwill Donation Center: 1063 Reading Rd Mason, OH 45040; Phone 513.770.3290 (we were recently told they do not wipe hard drives)

 

• Salvation Army: https://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org

 

• Best Buy take some items free and other items have a fee:  https://www.bestbuy.com/site/services/recycling/

 

• Cohen Recycling: 2175 Reading Road, Sharonville; Phone 513 733-0606

 

• Good Shephard Parish Computer Ministry: (Contact Person is Terry Albright, email: tlalbright1944@yahoo.com) – currently only taking laptops

 

• Cincinnati Computer Cooperative: http://www.cincinnaticomputercooperative.org/

Thank you for the support you have offered this ministry over the past three years!