Any DU'ers have extra Laptop or Notebook to help fellow DU'er?

[KoKo]

I don't want to step out of line posting this...but seeing this post made me wonder if someone could help him out. It's a terrible thing to be shut out of communication and information in these times when injured and ill.

If you think you can help PLEASE READ AND POST ON THIS THREAD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=571298&mesg_id=571298

[Lucinda]

1. I dont....but I'll kick this for you

:hi:

[snappyturtle]

2. I don't have one but hopefully someone out there does. K&R nt

[Iwillnevergiveup]

3. You're not stepping out of line, KoKo

You're stepping up! Thank you.

K&R

[Luminous Animal]

4. I wish I did. Thank you for posting this.

[Monique1]

5. There are many great deals for laptops

perhaps we all could pool our money to buy one for him. I know of Craigslist maybe there is one at that place. I could give a few bucks.

[w8liftinglady]

7. so can I

[BobbyBoring]

9. Me 2

I'll see if I can find anything but I'm also willing to pitch in.

They are so inexpensive these days. If 20 people chipped in 20 bucks, we could get something I'm sure~

[Mojorabbit]

46. I'd kick in too. nt

[Luminous Animal]

12. I'd kick in.

[bobbolink]

6. A kick for a great man and his sweet dog.

:kick:

[Brigid]

8. I may be able to help.

Let me PM you.

[Desertrose]

62. PM me for address to donate

using Paypal...

Thank you!!!

[Desertrose]

10. Kick

[ThomCat]

11. A few years ago, some DUers chipped in to buy me a computer

I am disabled and home-bound because of it, dirt poor. My computer died and I was facing being isolated, unable to talk to anyone online, and unable to even go outside to reach anyone. DUers did a fund-raiser to buy me a computer so that I could stay online.

Many of the people who bought me that computer aren't even still here. It was that long ago. But I'm still using that computer. Being able to connect to people helped me stay involved in the world, stay in touch with friends, remain an activist, and keep from falling into a social and personal abyss...

It meant a hell of a lot, being able to reach out to the rest of the world...

If you can do even a little bit to help Dragonfli, think about the good impact of it, how much it could mean, and how much difference it could make. Being cut off and isolated is a tough way to live.

Please help if you can. :)

[bobbolink]

13. Thanks for the reminder.

The caution is that so many of us have had negative experiences, and we also need to protect the privacy and dignity of everyone we want to reach out to.

I agree a computer is essential.

And Dragonfli is getting to be almost as homebound as you are.

Can you help us figure out how to do this in a way that protects his dignity and privacy?

Thanks.

[Aerows]

15. I would suggest

that whoever can donate the laptop get in with whoever is going to coordinate the effort. At some point, you are going to have to obviously provide an address to send it to. I'm not sure how undignified it is to accept a spare laptop if you need one. Heck, if it's just the screen that is broken, those are actually not that expensive to replace - I did it on one of mine.

I'd be more than happy to offer advice on what to get.

[KoKo]

16. Yes....it's hard to do a fundraiser without interfering with privacy. Anyone have any ideas?

There's a DU'er who was running an organization called something like "One Green Shoot" (something like that) but I don't remember their name.

I think she helped out one of our DU'ers and maybe she had a way of donating that wouldn't interfere with privacy.. Pay Pal or something?

:shrug:

[JanMichael]

17. WishaDoo!

She's from NC....let me PM her and direct her to this thread-

[OneGrassRoot]

20. I'm here!

:hi:

[JanMichael]

24. Hi!

I'll keep watching this thread-- I like "One grass shoot" too!

[OneGrassRoot]

19. LOL

I think you mean One Grass Root, but I love One Green Shoot! :)

I can set up a fundraiser, but -- yes -- the site would need the address of the recipient in order to send the check. It wouldn't be made public, and the person can remain anonymous, but an address would be involved as to where to send the check.

Hope that helps. :hi:

[Aerows]

22. PayPal would work

you would open the account up for the person using an email address, and then people could donate - of course, at some point, someone would have to know the person in order to help them. If the man is housebound, and it sounds like he is, someone would have to volunteer to get the laptop to him either via shipping, or hand delivery.

Depending on what is wrong with it, someone could also volunteer to go fix it for him.

[ThomCat]

18. The easiest way to do it is to have one person

who knows computers and can most easily purchase a good one with the necessary software AND an AT HOME service contract set up a paypal account just for the purpose of this fund-raiser. Post a link so people can donate to it.

That keeps funds separate from anything else.

And, if 2 or more people want to see the pay-pal account to make sure the accounting is on the up-and-up, the password can be shared without anyone seeing someone's other finances.

When the computer is purchased, make sure it is purchased as system that is ready to go out-of-the-box and won't need anything else done to it if dragonfli isn't good with computers. Have it shipped directly to dragonfli, and it's done.

It's pretty simple.

The rest is just posting updates here at DU so people know what's going on.

[OneGrassRoot]

21. That's a great idea, too. n/t

[madmax]

55. +1

[bobbolink]

27. That sounds absolutely the best. Dragonfli, like the rest of us poor folk, doesn't have paypal

or anything like that, so it needs to be done by a group of people and just get it to him.

I hadn't thought of the service contract, but you are right... that would be one more big worry off his shoulders, and right now, what he needs most is some freedom from worry.

If the account could include some dog food, too, that would be perfect!

Thanks for your excellent input!

[KoKo]

32. Thanks...I'm contacting the DU'er who knows him..about this...

not sure of the circumstances if this would work. Still hoping to find a laptop that could be mailed to him somehow...but others might find the Pay Pal method will work.

I have to leave now but will check back on the thread.

[Aerows]

14. I built a box for a young man for Christmas last year -

he's mentally disabled, and he LOVED it. If nothing else, I can probably help you find a great deal on something.

[OneGrassRoot]

23. You rock, Aerows....

Just saying hi and thanking you for offering your services.

:hi:

[KoKo]

25. Maybe if someone has a Laptop they could mail it to Skinner and he could mail it?

Since he has our information that way Dragonfli's address could be kept private and the donors? :shrug:

[alsame]

26. KoKo, maybe you should crosspost in the Computer forum. k&r

[Tsiyu]

28. That is an excellent idea

:kick:

[KoKo]

29. Thanks...I'll do that. Please keep this going...I have to leave and will check back later...

[Carni]

30. THAT is an excellent idea! eom

[Mnemosyne]

31. K&R for more visibility. n/t

[tavalon]

33. Kicked

[alsame]

34. Kick nt

[bobbolink]

35. kick for others who can help...

[shraby]

36. On occasion someone will give away a laptop or a computer

on freecycle. Check the freecycle where he lives.. I'll post this on the other thread too.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. I can help too. And I'd be honored to help. Count me in!

:hi:

[bobbolink]

44. You are always right there, Peggy!

:loveya:

[Desertrose]

63. PM me for address to donate

via PayPal.

Thanks!!!!

[jannyk]

38. Don't have a spare laptop, but can donate to fund one if we can get this organized.

Will someone pm me if we get this together, so I can contribute.

[Desertrose]

69. PM me for address to donate

via Paypal.

Thank you!!

[frebrd]

39. K&R! n/t

[alsame]

40. Kick for visibility. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. k&r

[Desertrose]

42. Another kick

for Dragonfli

[KoKo]

43. I'm back... and Apparently the DU'er just needs a functioning Computer to get online and post

and really doesn't want to accept money for a new computer or donations to buy one because he doesn't have the mobility now to be able to shop to purchase and he guards his privacy.

I'm still hoping that a DU'er might have something that would meet his basic needs of being online and able to e-mail and participate on DU. It doesn't have to be a fancy or new laptop...just one that functions.

I'm hoping that it could just be someone who has a laptop like that who could just mail it to him so that privacy isn't breached. It would just be between the two of you.

Still Kicking and hoping.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions on this.

Regards,
KoKo

[KoKo]

45. Giving an Overnight Kick..as more people will be coming on into tomorrow.

Doesn't have to be a fancy laptop...just something that can get online.

Thanks All!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

47. K-I-C-K

I see this happening for Dragonfli. There is lots of input and many positive suggestions, but if I were Dragonfli, what would work best for me is to have a laptop delivered. So guess it's then just a matter of someone taking in the donations through Pay Pal or whatever and mailing it to him. Or, if a someone already has one that could be shipped directly to him.

There is also the issue of his dog needing medical attention. Sounds like that's as much of a worry to Dragonfli as his latest mishap with the laptop. If I recall, we got some dental treatment done for a DUer by sending the dentist money directly. This could work for the vet, too.

[bobbolink]

48. That is what sounds most reasonable.

Thanks for nevergivingup with caring! :yourock:

[applegrove]

49. Kick

[kag]

50. I would also like to donate.

Could someone let me know when and how to send money? I would appreciate it.

[Desertrose]

61. PM me for address to donate

I'm using pay pal but there are other options..


THANK YOU!!

[Turborama]

51. Unfortunately, the only way I can help is by kicking and recommending this thread

And if Dragonfli can eventually read this, sending best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

[bobbolink]

67. And that is a big help.. thank you!

:yourock:

[Rhiannon12866]

52. K&R for Dragonfli!

:kick:

[njlib]

53. Sounds like you guys are getting the lap top taken care of....

now, what about the dog?? Is someone able to set that up so I can send some cash?

[Desertrose]

66. PM me for address to donate

via paypal.

Thanks so much!

[handmade34]

54. recommended

[a la izquierda]

56. I might be able to donate a little money...

so please keep me in the loop. Suerte!

[Desertrose]

64. PM me for address to donate

via Paypal.

Many thanks!!!

[laylah]

57. K&R!!!!

Wishes for a speedy recovery. :hug:

[CLANG]

58. Seeing how I'm getting a huge tax return this year - I have no excuse not to donate

Please when you get the payment situation set up, have Skinner pin the post so it stays around for a few days. I would love to contribute!

[Desertrose]

65. PM me for address to donate

via Paypal.

Thank you!!!

[Desertrose]

59. Update...Monday

If anyone wants to donate to help Dragonfli...please PM me. I'm collecting whatever anyone feels called to give in a Paypal account and will make sure it gets to him.


:grouphug:

[bobbolink]

60. !!

:yourock:

[spanone]

68. k&r...

[jannyk]

70. kick

[Iwillnevergiveup]

71. Here's a kick

for Dragonfli.

:kick:

[KoKo]

72. kick!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

73. Can't hack PayPal???

Please PM me.

[Desertrose]

74. kick!

We are doing pretty good for Dragonfli!!!!

:bounce:

Thanks to everyone who has contributed...ya'll rock!!!

[superduperfarleft]

75. I have a spare laptop.

It's an old Dell Inspiron 5150 from 2004, nothing great, battery doesn't hold a charge anymore, and it's old enough to be pre-wireless card although I have a crappy wireless PCI card I used for a while, I think I still have that too. Overall, it's still a good basic laptop for things like browsing.

I may not be around my computer much tonight, but I get PM notifications in my email, so let me know if I can help. Oh, and use the money in that Paypal account for the dog.

[KoKo]

76. Kick...some good is going on here in efforts for fellow DU'er...

Please keep it going....

:kick:

[derby378]

77. Dangit...

I already donated my spare laptop to the local Democratic Party HQ to help shore up local candidates.

[lapislzi]

78. PM

I have a little notebook that's seen little use. Bless you.

[spanone]

79. wish that i did

[Desertrose]

80. one more kick for Dragonfli!!

:grouphug:

Thanks everyone who donated so far!!!

[frebrd]

81. Kick! n/t