reBOOT regroups for back to school

Pumped up after moving into their new locale, reBOOT Montreal is hoping for a big back-to-school month.

The non-profit organization, which refurbishes old donated computers, has a sale set for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its new location, 697 Meloche Ave., in Dorval near the Côte de Liesse autoroute.

"Finally, we have our own home," reBOOT Montreal executive director Rita Reynolds said of their new office and warehouse space in the Dorval industrial park. The group initially ran out of the basement in Riverdale High School for a few years before setting up at a shared location last year.

"For our donating service, we receive about 1,000 computers a year but not everything can be repaired," Reynolds said. "We also recycle what we cannot use, about 25 tonnes a year."

Computers being sold Saturday range in price from $20 up to $100 plus taxes for a Pentium XP, which all come with basic software, a mouse and keyboard but no monitor. "We have something for everyone," Ryenolds said, adding they don't usually have laptops in stock. "As soon as they (laptops) come in, they're gone."

The purchase price basically covers operating cost for the group, which is affiliated with reBOOT Canada based in Toronto.

The group has new project aimed at setting up computer labs at seniors' clubs and centres, said trainer and reCONNECT project manager Eric Mesier. "We will show seniors how to use a mouse so they will understand how it's an extension of their hand on the screen," he said. "We also show them to use websites since each one is different. It's really basic stuff."

One of the first seniors' associations to be assisted in the program is the Teapot Centre in Lachine where reBOOT started setting up last week.

There are a few paid employees at reBOOT but the agency also relies on volunteers, from trainers for the seniors' program, tech people to office help.

For more information, check www.rebootmontreal.ca or call 514-636-8279.