Need a laptop? This retiree refurbishes laptops, gives them away to those in need : NPR

Craig Clark is a good neighbor.

After he retired from managing a convenience store chain, he became a computer technician. That's when he came up with the idea of ​​providing laptops to those who couldn't afford them.

Clark, from Sarasota, Florida, is the “Tech Fairy.”

“I don't remember why or how I branded myself as [that]”,” he told NPR. “People would give me their old computers when they bought new ones, and I would fix them and find someone to give them to.”

He started eight years ago and has helped hundreds of people with photographs to prove it.

“There are a lot of convenience store workers in the 700 photos, a lot of fast food workers, people I know who work for minimum wage and probably can't afford a $1,200 laptop.”

The 79-year-old is a one-man operation. Clark's office has shelves filled with computers. Some laptops are open, revealing green motherboards.

Laptops are all donations. It replaces broken parts and adds a new hard drive to every computer—at no cost to recipients.

“I couldn't do this without the generous donations I receive,” he says. “I give away about eight or nine a month… probably 500 laptops. [here]. So there's $20,000 there.”

And Clarke says that while Tech Fairy's costs for returning donated laptops continue to rise, the value to recipients can be life-changing.

One example: A waiter at Clark's favorite restaurant accepted one of the refurbished laptops.

“He came over and said, 'Craig, I just want you to know that last week I received two $6,000 grants from college that I wouldn't have even known about if I didn't have this laptop.'

Clark looks beyond familiar faces when selecting potential recipients for his tech gifts. When he goes shopping at places like second-hand stores, Clark approaches people who may be looking at a used laptop but are hesitant to buy it.

He even developed a small script.

“So I'll say something like, 'I noticed you were looking at the computer, but you didn't pick it up.'

Clark then tells them about his refurbished laptops and “shows them the people I've given computers to and then they're convinced I'm the real deal.”

Clark intends to continue making wishes come true, one refurbished laptop at a time.

“I never had a plan,” he says. “It was just something that happened and kind of jumped out from under me. But I'm so glad it happened.”

“I like fixing computers and watching people smile.”

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