EDMONTON – Do you have an old computer sitting around? If you do, an Edmonton man wants you to donate it to help Syrian refugees settling in the city.
John Grierson is collecting the hardware for Computers for Refugees, a campaign to refurbish and distribute old laptops and desktops to Syrian refugees. The campaign is part of a wider effort to help by the Edmonton Refugee Volunteer Group.
Grierson, who runs a company that fixes computers, said many people have computers that are up-to-date but not being used. He said they could go a long way to help refugee newcomers to Alberta’s capital.
“I thought people are coming to Edmonton, probably without much in the way of luggage, who could probably use a computer,” he said.
Grierson is collecting computers and laptops that are able to run Windows 7 and OS X Snow Leopard.
He hopes the hardware will help them feel more comfortable in Edmonton while staying connected to loved ones back home.
“It will mean they can contact people back home. They can use Facebook. They can interact socially with people in Canada,” he said.
Once a laptop or computer is donated, Grierson will re-format the computer, update it with the latest programs and then distribute it to those in need.
“Hopefully it’s just one less thing (for them) to worry about. Hopefully it shows them people in Edmonton want to help,” he said.
Grierson started the campaign Saturday and there is no end date; he said donations will be accepted as long as there is need.
The laptops and computers will be given to Syrian refugees through the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, Catholic Social Services and the Islamic Family and Social Services.
If you are interested in donating a computer or laptop, click here.
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