Free Geek

{{Short description|Organization}} {{Infobox organization | logo = Free Geek Logo.svg | type = [[501(c)(3)|501(c)(3) Nonprofit]] | founded = 2000 | founder = Oso Martin | location = [[Portland, Oregon]] | origins = | leader_title = Exec. Dir. | leader_name = [[Juan Manuel Muro, Jr.]] | region_served = [[Portland metropolitan area|Portland Metro]] | product = | focus = Sustainable technology reuse, digital access and technology education. | method = | revenue = | endowment = | num_volunteers = 2000+ active | num_employees = 30-40 | num_members = | subsid = | owner = | website = {{URL|http://freegeek.org/}} | dissolved = | footnotes = }}

'''Free Geek''' is a technology related [[non-profit organization]] based in [[Portland, Oregon]], launched on April 22, 2000. It started as a public event at [[Pioneer Courthouse Square]]. In September 2000, it opened a permanent facility as a drop off site for electronic waste. In January 2001, local newspaper ''[[The Oregonian]]'' ran an article advertising their free computer program for [[volunteers]], which became so successful that they had to start a waiting list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plug into Portland {{!}} Free Geek |url=https://www.freegeek.org/free-computers/plug-portland |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=www.freegeek.org}}</ref> They currently have over 2,000 active volunteers per year.<ref>{{cite news |last=MacKinnon | first=Merry |title=Computer nerds, and proud of it |url=http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php/Lifestyles_Northwest_article |work= Lifestyles Northwest |date=March 2006 |access-date=2006-12-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Pete | last=Forsyth |author-link=:s:Author:Pete Forsyth|title=[[wikisource:en:Free Software, Older Computers Help Group Narrow Digital Divide|Free software, older computers help group narrow digital divide]] |work=The Portland Tribune |date=May 4, 2001}}</ref>

==Free software== Free Geek's refurbished computers run [[Linux Mint]] and other [[free and open-source software]]. The use of free software gives a wide range of software without the need to manage [[Software license|licenses]] or payment.

Free Geek was a joint winner of the first Chris Nicol FOSS Prize awarded by the [[Association for Progressive Communications]] (APC) in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Free Geek has been keeping the needy nerdy for seven full years|work=APCNews|date=16 October 2007 |url=http://www.apc.org/en/node/1862/}}</ref>

==History== As part of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the company received between $350,000 and $1 million in federally backed small business loan from [[Columbia State Bank]] as part of the [[Paycheck Protection Program]]. The company stated it would allow them to retain 47 jobs.<ref name="proj_FREE">{{Cite web |title=FREE GEEK - Coronavirus Bailouts - ProPublica |last1=Syed |first1=Moiz |last2=Willis |first2=Derek |work=ProPublica |date= 7 July 2020|access-date=8 July 2020 |url= https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/loans/free-geek-39fe3bd741ef429e68e6825502546797}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Empower Up]] *[[World Computer Exchange]] * [[Digital divide in the United States]] * [[Global digital divide]] *[[Computer recycling]] *[[Electronic waste in the United States]] *[[Telecentre]]

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://www.freegeek.org/ Free Geek] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070813074918/http://www.boingboing.net/2004/08/15/recycle_your_old_ele.html BoingBoing article] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080517081530/http://www.boingboing.net/2006/11/20/portland_freegeek_ri.html another BoingBoing article]

[[Category:Organizations established in 2000]] [[Category:Organizations based in Portland, Oregon]] [[Category:2000 establishments in Oregon]] [[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Oregon]] [[Category:Digital divide]] [[Category:Information technology charities]] [[Category:Electronic waste in the United States]] [[Category:Information technology organizations based in North America|Charities]] [[Category:Recycling organizations]]