With a home base of Turning Point United Methodist Church, the Computers for Christmas program is
preparing dozens of Apple eMac and other computers in time for Christmas for children and families in
need in the community.
Jeffrey Kill, founder of Computers for Charity, has developed this ministry as an extension of his
organization. He and dozens of volunteers are preparing the donating computers, nearly 70 of them, with
new operating systems.
The computers are no longer supported by Macintosh, and these computers could have ended in a landfill.
Instead, Kill’s organization adopted the computers and are refurbishing them to be wrapped and ready to
be placed under the Christmas tree.
Computers for Christmas is looking for churches or other civic organizations to find people willing to
adopt a computer. To adopt a computer, a person must make a nominal donation of $10. Donors will have
the opportunity to nominate a child of their choosing to receive these computers for Christmas.
Kill, a resident of Bowling Green, is working through the Wood County Area Ministries and other churches
to find donors willing to adopt a computer as well as the recipients of those adoptions.
Nominations can be made through participating organizations. As of Tuesday only Turning Point and
Computers for Charity are listed, but Kill indicated other churches may be coming on board as a
participant.
Kill indicated the operating system they are installing is a basic system; however he says each computer
is "packed full of educational games."
He added, "We just don’t want to see them end up in the landfill. With the current economy there are
so many kids who could benefit from these computers."
Kill cited statistics which contend that students with a home computer score significantly better on
tests.
This ministry started in Kill’s garage, but has continued to grow. He and his staff are all volunteers,
some from Turning Point. Some technical experts travel from as far as Michigan to assist.
"What amazes me is the dedication of these volunteers," said Pastor Larry Whatley of the host
church. "This is their passion. That’s why they’re doing it."
"What we’re able to make use of old hardware and make it like new again," Kill noted.
Previous to this project, Computers for Charity has sent hundreds of computers to a ministry in the
Philippines where Kill has a family member involved.
On Dec. 13, during and after the morning worship, Turning Point will host an open house to introduce the
congregation and the community to this ministry.
(See CHARITY on 16)
The eMacs are 1.4Ghz with 512MB RAM and 80GB hard disks. Kill says the computers are
"all-in-one" systems which are still popular with many schools.
Kill and his staff are at the church on Tuesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. for those wishing to volunteer their
time or to adopt a computer.
The organization is in need of boxes and wrapping paper for these computers. In addition to technical
experts, other volunteers will be needed to box and wrap the computers and other tasks for the ministry.

Other donated computers are also welcome. A future project will involve sending computers to Guatemala.

Through Bowling Green State University, volunteers from R.O.T.C. recently spent part of their Saturday,
tearing apart old computers which could not be refurbished.
Future plans for the ministry include offering classes on computer use.
For more information on the program call Kill at (419) 807-8015; or the church at (419) 373-0144. Kill
may also be contacted by e-mail at [email protected]. His Web site is:
computersforcharity.webs.com.