The City of Columbia, the Voluntary Action Center (VAC) and the Downtown Optimist Club are once again partnering to provide surplus refurbished computers to eligible low-income Columbia families as part of the Homes for Computers program.

Applications are now available at the VAC office, 403 A Vandiver Dr., and must be completed and turned in to the VAC office prior to the Feb. 8 enrollment deadline. If there are more applications received than computers available, a drawing will be held at the VAC office for the computers available. To be eligible, families must have at least one child in grades K-12 and residency within the City of Columbia's city limits. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the VAC office at (573) 874-2273.

Chosen families will be notified the week of Feb. 11. Computers will be distributed to the chosen families by the Downtown Optimist Club Saturday, Feb. 16, between 9 a.m. - noon at 1201 Grand Avenue in Columbia. 

The Homes for Computers program was approved by City Council in December 2003. Prior to this, the city disposed of surplus computers through the University of Missouri Surplus Property Division. The city determined that donating the computers to families in Columbia was a much better alternative. To date, 350 computers have been given to worthy families through this program.

Manpower and security issues limit this program to the distribution of surplus city computers only. VAC is not able to accept other computer donations at this time. However, citizens who wish to donate their unused/unwanted computers may do so by contacting the following agencies: 

• FreeCycle, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleColumbiaMO/ 
• Columbia Computer Center, 1122 Lakeview Ave., (573) 442-9445, accepts working computer parts and monitors less than 10 years old
• Dell Recycle Program Recycle or donate, www.dell.com
• Mid-MO Recycling, 6104 Brown Station Road, (573) 474-3997, accepts most items at no charge
• Staples, 115 Conley Road, accepts electronic items, $10 fee applies. Provides pickup of larger items that are too heavy to bring to the store for an additional $10 fee.