Consoles and Computers for C.A.R.E. Program

Consoles & Computers for C.A.R.E. Program

(C.A.R.E. = Community • Access • Resilience • Equity)

The Consoles & Computers for C.A.R.E. Program is WSEGL Canada’s tech-donation pipeline that turns “old” or unused technology into new chances to play, learn, and connect. This is the update to the original Consoles for Cancer program as introduced by the WSEGL Canada team in 2022.

From retro consoles to modern gaming PCs, we collect and recycle tech so it can be repaired, refurbished, and re-deployed to:

  • Lower-income families

  • Kids and youth we meet at events

  • Families in crisis or transition who need a lift up

  • Community partners (youth programs, Pride groups, disability orgs, etc.)

At the heart of it is our C.A.R.E. principle:

  • Community – Tech stays in the community. What you donate helps real families and kids we meet face-to-face.

  • Access – We remove cost barriers so everyone, regardless of income or disability, can game, learn, and socialize.

  • Resilience – Gaming rigs and devices become coping tools, social lifelines, and safe escapes during hard times.

  • Equity – We focus on those who are most often left out: cancer families, neurodivergent youth, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, and people with physical disabilities.

How the Program Works (Big Picture)

  1. You Donate Tech
    You donate new, gently used, or older “retro” tech to the Inclusion Aracde

  2. We Sort & Triage
    Our team checks each item and decides:

    • Direct Use: Good to go with a clean-up or minor fix → goes into our Inclusion Arcade setups, educational and hospital kits, or directly to families.

    • Refurbish / Parts: Needs more work or is better suited for parts.

    • Recycle via ERA: Items we can’t use directly are forwarded to the Electronics Recycling Association (ERA).

  3. ERA Partnership – Turning Recycling into Impact

    • For each item we forward to ERA, they process it responsibly. It could go to nonprofits, schools, or recycled ethically.

    • In return, WSEGL Canada receives credit on their retail.era.ca platform.

    • We then use those credits to acquire refurbished desktops, laptops, and other hardware that are stable, safe, and ready for families.

  4. Rebuild, Reimagine, Redeploy
    Using both direct donations and ERA credits, we:

    • Build adaptive-friendly gaming stations

    • Create home computers for homework and safe online gaming

    • Set up portable rigs for events, pop-ups, and potential hospital visits

  5. Gift & Follow-Up

    • Systems are gifted to families or community partners with basic onboarding and safety education. A letter is provided to the family on where the equipment came from, and who was involved, showing humanity through ethical recycling and pay it forward of technology.

    • Whenever possible, we stay connected to check in, troubleshoot, and keep things running through DM or email

The Item Life Cycle (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the life cycle of a donated item in the Consoles & Computers for C.A.R.E. Program:

  1. Donate

    • A family, business, school, or gamer donates a console, computer, or related tech to WSEGL Canada.

  2. Intake & Data Safety

    • We log the item, remove any personal accessories, and ensure data is wiped or scheduled for proper data destruction (either by us or by ERA). This is kept on file for total tracking of equipment received and forwarded on.

  3. Assessment / Triage

    • We check:

      • Does it power on?

      • Is it reasonably current or uniquely valuable as retro gear?

      • Can it support modern games, education tools, or accessibility software?

      • Can it be integrated to show adaptive gaming and fun in a different light, mixing new technology with old school technology.

 

  1. Path A – Direct Redeployment (Ready or Simple Fix)
    If it’s usable with light work:

    • Clean, reset, and install safe, family-friendly software.

    • Add adaptive peripherals where needed (switches, alternative controllers, mounts).

    • Match to a family, child, or community partner based on need.

    • Deliver the system with basic setup support and education on safe, inclusive gaming.

  2. Path B – Repair, Parts, or Refurb
    If it needs help to be viable:

    • Use spare parts from other donations to get it running.

    • Or designate it as a donor unit for parts that will fix other systems.

    • Anything we can’t safely deploy as a full kit gets flagged for ERA.

  3. Path C – ERA Recycling & Credit
    If it’s not suitable for direct redeployment:

    • We ship or drop it to Electronics Recycling Association.

    • ERA handles environmentally responsible recycling and/or refurbishing.

    • WSEGL receives program credit toward items on retail.era.ca (e.g., bulk lots of refurbished PCs or laptops).

  4. Credit → New Builds

    • We use ERA credits to order refurbished desktops, laptops, and other tech.

    • Those items then go through our setup process and are built into C.A.R.E. kits (gaming + education + accessibility).

  5. In Use & End-of-Life

    • Devices can live multiple lives:

      • Primary family machine

      • Then re-donated to another family

      • Finally recycled again through ERA when truly done

    • This keeps e-waste out of landfills and extending tech life as far as possible.

What We’re Looking For – Donation Types

We accept a wide range of tech items, both retro and modern, including:

Consoles & Gaming

  • Retro consoles (NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, etc.)

  • Modern consoles (PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series, Nintendo Switch, handhelds)

  • Controllers (standard and pro), especially adaptive-friendly controllers

  • Racing wheels, joysticks, fight sticks, VR headsets (case-by-case)

Computers & Components

  • Laptops (Windows, Mac, Chromebook – working or repairable)

  • Desktop towers and small form-factor PCs

  • Monitors and Televisions (HD/1080p minimum, higher is great but not always required)

  • Keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets

Accessories & Support Gear

  • External hard drives / SSDs (to be wiped)

  • Routers and network switches (for building small gaming labs)

  • Surge protectors, small UPS units

  • Cables (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB, power cords, etc.)

Non-Tech Support

Even if you don’t have hardware, you can still fuel C.A.R.E.:

  • Gift cards (tech retailers, online stores)

  • Cash donations (to cover shipping, parts, and adaptive controllers)

  • Sponsorships from businesses for bulk equipment or freight

Why This Matters

  • Families get a lift up, not a bill. Many of the families we support are already stretched thin by medical costs, disability supports, and daily life.

  • Kids gain safe digital spaces to socialize, learn, and self-regulate through game-based play.

  • Communities benefit twice:

    • First, by keeping e-waste out of landfills through recycling and refurb.

    • Second, by putting working tech back into homes, clubs, and community spaces.

  • Donors see visible impact. Your old console doesn’t sit in a closet. It becomes part of a gaming station at an event, a PC for a teen, or a C.A.R.E. kit for a family that really needs a win.

How to Get Involved

You can support the Consoles & Computers for C.A.R.E. Program by:

  • Donating your tech – consoles, computers, monitors, accessories.

  • Hosting a collection drive at your workplace, school, or event.

  • Partnering as a sponsor to cover shipping, storage, and adaptive gear.

  • Spreading the word on social media and in your local community.

From one family to the world, WSEGL Canada is building adaptive, inclusive, resilient gaming spaces—one donated console, one recycled computer, one C.A.R.E. kit at a time.