One person with a good idea can make a difference

[Sherman A1]

College student's idea grows into electronics thrift store with a purpose

Angela Haas was a senior at St. Louis University when she got the idea to refurbish and resell old computers to other students.
Now, a dozen years later, she's president of a nonprofit that last year recycled 7.5 million pounds of electronics and helped 5,500 families get computers free or for drastically reduced prices.
"Basically somebody said it couldn't be done, and I said 'I'm going to show you,' " said Haas, 37.
The headquarters of Wits Inc. sits at 643 East Holly Avenue in St. Louis, east of Bellefontaine Cemetery. The charity has a 23,000-square-foot warehouse and a two-story brick building that's used for office space.
Haas' corner office is painted bright orange and purple. The carpet, recycled from a casino, has stripes in similar hues. Chinese characters adorn one of the walls, and Haas said they mean "welcome."
"I was going for something feng shui," she said. "I've even got some bamboo over here that I haven't managed to kill yet."
Haas runs her charity with the help of hundreds of volunteers, but she is paid and she also employs 33 people, many of whom are referred by a homeless shelter.
"We give them a chance, and if they mess it up that's their fault," she said. "But a lot of them have gotten their lives back on track."
Haas said she tries to impress on them that their work is more than a paycheck; it involves giving back to those less fortunate.
Overall, she said she's pleased with the direction Wits has taken.

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