It's another busy day at Computers for Schools headquarters. A group of volunteers, many of whom are retired teachers, are busy turning our technological trash into the next generation's treasure.

Old computers are donated from a variety of sources, the state's attorney's office, Rockford Health Systems, and anybody who wants to see their old computer end up anywhere besides a landfill. Jack Armstrong tells us we don't have to worry about our personal information finding its way into the wrong hands.

"We have a program that automatically wipes out everything off the hard drive not one, but three times and then after we wipe it three times then we put our own program on there. Nobody has been able to find anything on there besides our program in the 4,775 that we've sent out."

Computers for Schools has sent computers to schools in Rockford, Beloit, Oregon, Rochelle and many other Stateline communities. If a computer cannot be salvaged, then it is broken down and recycled by the employees of Illinois Growth Enterprises, with whom computers for schools has a partnership. there are piles of computers that need to be sorted and only a few volunteers to do the work, but volunteer George Wong says it's worth it.

"It's a very rewarding thing for me. I spend two mornings a week down here and I'm sure that the schools and the kids in the schools appreciate it."

Numerous thank you cards in the office are proof that these piles of computers are creating smiles on the students faces. We can drop off our old computers at 7200 Clinton Rd. in Loves Park. Computers will be taken from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.