FGTC Newsletter July 2023

Signs of growth…

Your continued tech donations and patronage have allowed us to expand. Bit by bit, we’re increasing our capacity to do good. We’re fulfilling our mission in ways we’ve only dreamed, in the form of events, education, and e-waste initiatives. See below for details!

Retro Tech Meetup

Wednesday, July 19th, is our very first retro meetup and demo! We invite you to come to UROC between 2pm and 7pm to check out demos of vintage computing, gaming, audio / video, and much more! Admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend!

Now at Free Geek Twin Cities: Classes!

In the past few months, we’ve hosted a variety of classes:

Soldering 101

Gaming Department Head & Repair Queen Amanda walked students through the basics of soldering.

Build Your Own PC

Technology Trainer Adam hosted a class where participants of all ages were guided through building their own PC step-by step. At the end of the class, they got to take it home!

Build Your Own Retro PC

Volunteer Coordinator and Retro Department Head Andrew organized enthusiasts to build a 90’s era PC. Lots of beige! Participants then purchased their build for 20 bucks, or donated it to our thrift store for a fellow Retro geek to pick up.

Mobile Phone Literacy

Technology Trainer Adam hosted a course at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where he walked through the basics of how to use a mobile phone safely and securely. The majority of class participants were seniors -- an important part of the population that needs assistance getting connected.

Please stay tuned for additional class announcements on our Discord and our Facebook Page.

The ‘Free’ in Free Geek.

Many other recyclers charge for e-waste donations. At Free Geek Twin Cities, we only ask for a $5 monetary donation on difficult- or dangerous-to-recycle items like:

  • Printers & Scanners (These break often, have lots of plastic, and are near-impossible to dismantle).

  • Tube TVs (Cathode Ray Tubes have dangerous chemicals inside that are challenging and costly to dispose).

  • LCD TVs (Most have large parts and are difficult to disassemble & dispose with our current infrastructure).

  • Older LCD Computer Monitors (They’re similar to TVs, with a very high rate of donations not suitable for resale).

In our history, the ‘Free’ in Free Geek Twin Cities has meant different things. Today it means: “free to donate.” While we still request a monetary donation for the above items, we will no longer require one for household donations of the above electronics.

This is an evolving policy that we’ll update on our Accepted Items page.


Summer Hours Reminder

Through the end of August, our Thrift Store and Donation Drop-Off areas will be open an additional hour, til 6pm!

If you’re a 9-5 style person, this one’s for you! (Remember, we are open on the weekends too!)

All other areas of the building and volunteering will continue to close at 5pm.

til next month!
-FGTC Staff

Guest User