Answering the phone

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FAQ

If you'd like this information in a slightly different format, please check out FAQ for phone call response. This should provide you with answers to questions commonly heard over the phone; if you need information about using the phone system, see Phone System Howto.

Hours

11 am - 7 pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Location

1731 SE 10th Ave, 2 blocks south of Hawthorne

Donations

FREE GEEK is a 501(c)3, so all donations are tax-deductible.

Donations can be brought by any time we're open (leaving things when we are closed is illegal dumping). We take cash, checks and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard only, NOT Discover nor AmericanExpress).

We accept the donation of any computers, printers, telephones, fax machines, and office supplies, working or not. There are no fees, except under certain circumstances, but we do have suggested monetary donations to help support our programs. For large donations (several pallets) set a date and time. Send this info to staff AT freegeek DOT org and record on Freekiwiki in Receiving Calendar.

We do not take TVs, styrofoam, microwaves, smoke alarms, copy machines, batteries, or large appliances.

• Call Metro for more information on recycling these items call the Metro hotline at 503-234-3000 or visit their website at http://www.RecycleAtHome.org.
• A place to donate these items is Far West Fibers on 5525 SE 28th across from Reed College. Their phone number is (503) 238-1640. The charge for televisions is 40 cents a pound, and there is a $5 minimum. They're open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.
• For styrofoam they will have to take it to PC Plastics 5530 NE 122nd Portland, OR 97230 503.720.7689 open 7am - 9pm | Mon - Fri

Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering, please come down and take a tour. The tours happen every day we are open at noon and 5 pm. There are many other niches that volunteers can fulfill at Free Geek that aren't on the schedule! Shawn is our volunteer coordinator and she can give people things to do.

24 hour Adoption program

Volunteers receive a refurbished desktop computer after 24 hours of work. The current Freekboxen spec is below.

FreekBox Specs Processor Intel Core 2 Duo RAM 1 GB Hard drive 120-160 GB Optical DVD-RW Networking Ethernet 10/100 PCI Video card Onboard, or 128MB PCIe if necessary Sound Onboard, or PCI if necessary

Volunteers receiving their computer can also take a class which will introduce them to basic computer use & qualify them for 1 year of free tech support from Free Geek.

Build program

Volunteers in the build program go through a series of classes to familiarize them with computer hardware. They then put together 6 freekboxes of which they get to keep the 6th.

Signing up/Canceling

Volunteers can sign up and cancel their shifts over the phone. There is a build schedule and an adoption schedule. The date is at the bottom of the page and the times are at the top. These schedules are at the Volunteer Desk, so if such a call is answered at the Donation Desk, put it on hold so it can be picked up at the other desk (if you're not busy, you can do it yourself).

Tech support

We have tech support for adopters of FreekBoxes. StoreBoxes get tech support only if the person has a Support Ticket. Tech Support Hours are from noon to 5.45 pm, Tuesday through Saturday or by appointment. We are closed, to walk in customers, for lunch from 1-1.30pm. The e-mail address is support AT freegeek DOT org. We do not support non-FreekBoxes, or former FreekBoxes that have had Windows installed. (We will reinstall Linux on former FreekBoxes if desired.) Tech support can also help with upgrades, such as configuring a new monitor or printer or adding RAM.

Classes

Free Geek's volunteer classes are adoption and command line class and there is a black schedule book with sign up times for those ones. There are various other classes for people at different levels of expertise that are offered occasionally. Check in with Michael or Liane if there is nothing listed here.