PCs for People Returns to LAMP Campus
PCs for People has returned to LAMP Campus! On Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 AM — 3:00 PM come on by to talk to a PCs for People staff member about purchasing refurbished devices, such as computers, laptops, desktops, and internet hot spots. They also sell laptop accessories such as laptop bags, speakers, webcams, headsets, and monitors.
The LAMP Campus, located at the intersection of Linwood Blvd and Highway 71, has seen many developments in the past few years. Connecting for Good started in 2012, and moved to the LAMP Campus in 2015. It served as a nonprofit organization helping to connect people in the Kansas City area with “internet access, computers, digital skills training and community partnerships to help low and moderate income communities open minds and opportunities for a better future.” That small organization saw the need for digital inclusion efforts well before the connected world we are in today. They provided refurbishing services for donated computers, discount desktops and laptops for people in the community, community WiFi networks, and free digital literacy classes for the Kansas City area.
Then, in June of 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecting for Good announced that they officially became a PCs for People organization. The newly formed partnership “combined the unique strengths of both organizations to promote digital inclusion and heal the nation’s digital divide.” This merger was a shift for the organization, giving them a local presence but with a national perspective of device refurbishing. PCs for People since merging has developed throughout the years, not only being a hub for refurbished devices, but also continuing to provide digital skills classes, and other resources like hosting VITA tax programs.
Then, in 2023, PCs for People moved out of the LAMP Campus and set their main location at their Retail and Recycling Center in the West Bottoms (518 Santa Fe St KCMO). As they were moving out, KC Digital Drive moved into their space at the LAMP Campus and absorbed their digital literacy instructor, Carol Meyers, so she could stay teaching her classes at LAMP. Within the past year, the development of LAMP Campus has grown into what it is today: the Digital Support Services Center.
Ever since PCs for People moved out of LAMP, their patrons have continued to stop by since Linwood is in the heart of Midtown. PCs for People recognized that moving away from their primary location for years meant that they were less accessible to the communities they serve. Therefore, in June 2024, PCs for People announced that they would return to their location on Linwood, if at least part time. Therefore, they are able to have better access to their clientele and continue to serve at what used to be their headquarters.
PCs for People Kansas City is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a goal to “make a better future in the Kansas City area by empowering businesses and organizations to make a positive community and environmental impact.” They are part of a nationwide PCs for People organization that works across the country, providing refurbished devices and services to the areas they serve. They continue to sell refurbished laptops at a lower rate to households that qualify, with their Good/Better/Best pricing tiers. They also take device donations, sell internet hotspots for a low cost, and computer accessories. We look forward to seeing this valuable resource in the Kansas City area continue to serve the people in need in the area. For more information, go to their website here.