Got an Old Tablet Sitting in a Drawer? SteamRocket Wants It (Even If It's Broken)

You know that iPad with the cracked screen sitting in your junk drawer? Or the Chromebook your kid stopped using three years ago that now won't turn on? Or that laptop that's "too old" but you felt too guilty to throw away?

SteamRocket wants them. All of them. And here's the best part: they don't need to work.

We're launching a device donation program to get tablets, Chromebooks, and laptops into the hands of students in our coding and robotics programs. And unlike most donation drives that only want pristine, like-new devices, we're specifically asking for your broken, outdated, and "beyond repair" tech.

Why? Because we have in-house technicians who can fix them.

The Problem: Not Every Kid Has a Device

Here's something that shouldn't be surprising but somehow still is: not every student has access to a computer or tablet at home. And in 2025, when we're teaching kids to code, program robots, and build apps, that access gap is a massive problem.

Our programs teach students Python, JavaScript, Scratch, game design, robotics programming, and computational thinking. All of these require hands-on practice with actual devices. You can't learn to code on a whiteboard. You can't program a robot with a pencil and paper.

Some families can easily provide devices for their kids. Others are stretching budgets to cover multiple children, or facing financial situations where a $300 tablet just isn't feasible. We've seen incredibly talented students who are limited not by their ability or interest, but by the technology they can access.

That's what we're trying to fix.

Why We Want Your Broken Stuff

Most donation programs have a list of requirements: "Must be in working condition. Must be less than 3 years old. Must include original charger." It's understandable, but it means a lot of potentially useful devices end up in landfills or sitting unused in closets.

We're doing this differently.

Our technical team can handle repairs. Cracked screen? We can replace it. Won't charge? We'll swap the battery. Software issues? We'll troubleshoot and reinstall. Ancient operating system? We'll update what we can or load something lightweight that'll run smoothly.

If a device truly can't be saved, we'll responsibly recycle it and salvage any usable parts for future repairs. Nothing goes to waste.

This means you can donate that tablet you dropped, that laptop with the hinge problem, that Chromebook that mysteriously stopped connecting to WiFi. We'll figure it out. And if we can't, we'll use it for parts to fix something else.

What We're Looking For

We need:

• Tablets: iPads, Android tablets, Amazon Fire tablets, whatever you've got

• Chromebooks: Any model, any year, any condition

• Laptops: Windows or Mac, old or newer, working or broken

Seriously, if it's one of these three categories and it has a screen (even a cracked one), we want it.

You don't need to wipe the data if you're not sure how. Our tech team will securely erase everything before the device goes to a student. But if you want to factory reset it first, that's fine too.

You don't need to include chargers, cases, or accessories, though we'll gladly take them if you have them. We've got a pile of universal chargers and adapters that work with most devices.

And you definitely don't need to apologize for the condition. "Sorry, it's really beat up" is music to our ears. Beat up means it was well-used. Well-used means it still has life left in it.

What Happens to Donated Devices

Here's the journey your old device will take:

Step 1: Our tech team assesses it. Is it working? Partially working? Completely dead?

Step 2: If it's functional, we clean it up, configure it for student use, install any necessary software, and get it ready to deploy.

Step 3: If it's broken, we troubleshoot, order parts if needed, and repair it. This might take a few weeks depending on what's wrong and what parts we need.

Step 4: If it can't be fixed, we salvage usable components (screens, batteries, charging ports, etc.) and responsibly recycle the rest.

Step 5: Working devices go to students in our programs. They'll use them to write code, program robots, design games, collaborate on projects, and build skills that'll serve them for years.

Every device we receive means another student can fully participate. It means they can practice at home between sessions. It means they're not sharing one device among five students. It means they have the tools to explore their interests without hitting technological barriers.

How to Donate

Contact Crystal at crystal@steamrocket.org and let her know what you've got and whether you need pickup or want to drop it off.

If you've got a single old tablet, great. Drop it off at a time that works for you.

If you're a school upgrading your tech and have 50 outdated Chromebooks, even better. We'll arrange pickup.

If you're a business replacing your laptop fleet and have dozens of "obsolete" machines that are only four years old, we will absolutely take those off your hands. Just email Crystal.

We can be flexible on logistics. We know everyone's schedule is different and transporting electronics isn't always convenient. We'll work with you to make it as easy as possible.

All donations are tax-deductible, and we can provide receipts for your records.

Why This Matters

When we visited Caracol Museo de Ciencias in Ensenada back in December, we were blown away by how hands-on, interactive science education inspires kids. The planetarium, the fossil exhibits, the marine life displays, the passionate docents, it all came together to create an environment where learning felt exciting and accessible.

That's what we're trying to build with our programs. We want students to be genuinely excited about coding and robotics, not because someone told them they should be, but because they got to actually do it and discovered it was awesome.

But excitement alone isn't enough. Students need the tools to practice, experiment, fail, try again, and eventually succeed. They need devices they can code on, robots they can program, and time to mess around and figure things out. Your donated device gives them that time. That space to explore. That chance to discover they're really good at something they didn't even know existed.

The Bigger Picture

Here's the thing about technology access: it's not just about having a device. It's about what that device enables.

A student who can code at home can work on projects between classes. They can take online tutorials. They can join virtual communities of other young coders. They can build a portfolio. They can develop skills that open doors to internships, scholarships, and careers.

A student without access can only participate during structured program time. They're always playing catch-up. They miss out on the self-directed exploration that's often where the most interesting learning happens.

We're not saying every student needs to become a software engineer. But in 2025, computational thinking, basic coding skills, and comfort with technology are relevant to almost every field. Medicine uses programming. Art uses digital tools. Business runs on software. Science depends on data analysis.

Giving students access to devices isn't just about teaching them to code. It's about giving them options. About making sure that financial barriers don't determine whose interests get pursued and whose don't.

A Note on E-Waste

One more thing: by donating your old devices instead of throwing them away, you're keeping electronics out of landfills.

E-waste is a massive environmental problem. Americans generate millions of tons of it every year. Old phones, tablets, and laptops contain materials that can be harmful if they end up in landfills, and they also contain valuable materials that could be reused.

When you donate to SteamRocket, your device either gets a second life in the hands of a student, or gets responsibly recycled with parts salvaged for repairs. Either way, it's not sitting in a landfill leaching toxic materials into the soil.

It's a small thing, but it matters.

The Bottom Line

We need tablets, Chromebooks, and laptops. Working or broken. Old or newer. Beat-up or pristine. Whatever you've got, we can use it.

Contact Crystal at crystal@steamrocket.org to arrange pickup or drop-off.

That device collecting dust in your closet could be the tool that teaches a kid to code, helps them build their first robot, or sparks an interest that shapes their entire future. And honestly, isn't that a better ending for it than sitting in a drawer for another five years?

Contact Information:

CrystalSteamRocket Program Coordinatorcrystal@steamrocket.org

Donations are tax-deductible. Receipts available upon request.