[BC] off-topic request about a used computer

[Donna Halper]

Forgive me taking up everyone's time with this, but a family with 
whom I've been friendly for nearly ten years has come upon some hard 
times, and needs some help-- it's a husband and wife, both of whom 
are now seriously disabled and can't work (after being hard-working 
Americans for decades) and they have a mildly mentally retarded young 
daughter, whom they adopted when she was little.  They live in 
western Tennessee, in the poorest county in the region, where most of 
the factory jobs have long since been outsourced, and even the 
churches can't afford to help all the people who are out of 
work.  They had an old computer, and they were using it to help their 
kid with her school work, but the computer has just died and it would 
cost more to fix it than to just go out and buy a new one.  The 
problem is they have a hard time getting around, due to their 
disabilities, and they live on a fixed income, which means they can't 
afford a new computer. This is a wonderful family--  and they feel so 
depressed that the one thing that helped them to connect to the rest 
of the world is now unfixable.  This isn't a scam, and if I had money 
to get them another computer, I would. I've been sending them 
groceries and clothes for their kid, but I was curious if any of you 
nice folks know of a (gently) used computer you'd be willing to 
donate.  It would really help them out.  I'd be happy to pay for 
shipping.  If anyone wants more info, contact me off-list.