INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE

give IT. get IT. (GIGI) is a Maine-based digital inclusion nonprofit providing technology access and technical support to disadvantaged individuals, families and nonprofits across Northern New England since 2002. GIGI works with 375+ corporate partners such as L.L. Bean, Bangor Savings Bank and the University of Maine system who donate their surplus technology (“give IT”) so that community members in need can “get IT”. To date, more than 20,000 computers have been recovered, refurbished and distributed to the benefit of 60,000+ low income individuals and families with self-betterment goals that technology access and technical support can help accomplish, such as earning college degrees or certifications, applying for jobs or working remotely, utilizing telehealth services or digitally connecting populations such as isolated veterans and people with disabilities to the community. GIGI also runs build IT, a STEM program for disadvantaged youth grades 4-12 to complete its computer repair curriculum and distribute computers to afterschool program technology labs and low income families in the community. More than 12 million pounds of surplus electronics have been diverted from landfills and over $13 million in community use value has been recovered through these efforts.