Spooktacular Stories — October 2025
October brought treats, not tricks — a $10,000 Cox Charities grant, a volunteer spotlight on Dave, two hands-on partner events with Abdo Solutions and the Kyrene Rotary Club, a community recycling event with Resolution Copper, and a powerful distribution story: 400 Chromebooks delivered to Roosevelt Elementary students.
Can you find Jared?
Powering Up with Cox Charities ⚡
We’re excited to share that AZ StRUT has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Cox Charities! For 29 years, Cox employees have come together through Cox Charities to support the communities where they live and work — raising more than $11 million for Arizona nonprofits since 1996.
This year, $540,000 in grants were awarded to 48 organizations statewide, and AZ StRUT is proud to be among them. This support helps us continue our mission of empowering Arizona students through access to technology and hands-on learning.
Get Hands-On. Give Back. 🙌
Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a real impact? Volunteering with AZ StRUT is one of the most rewarding ways to support sustainability, education, and Arizona communities — all at the same time.
You don’t need any technical knowledge or prior experience — just bring your energy, curiosity, and willingness to help. Volunteers help us test devices, prepare refurbished equipment for schools and nonprofits, organize e-waste collections, and support students practicing real-world technical skills in our Techie Labs. Your time keeps thousands of pounds of electronics out of landfills each week — and creates lasting community impact.
Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Dave 🌟
Dave started volunteering with AZ StRUT in early 2025, but his first introduction came years earlier through a neighborhood recycling drive and the encouragement of a staff member who spoke passionately about the mission.
After a long career at Intel, Dave describes his knowledge as “a mile wide and an inch deep.” Volunteering gives him the hands-on experience he missed in his professional life — exploring everything from lab instruments to medical gear — and satisfies his lifelong curiosity about how things work.
The biggest surprise for Dave has been the people. For him, AZ StRUT is about much more than recycling — it’s about community, curiosity, and making an impact.
The diverse set of people I interact with at AZ StRUT makes the experience a learning one, full of knowledgeable, interesting, and enjoyable people. — Dave
Abdo Solutions Powers Up Student Success ⚙️
Our friends at Abdo Solutions rolled up their sleeves for a Refurbish-A-Thon to help sort donated electronics, and went above and beyond by helping us get 53 refurbished laptops cleaned and ready to distribute to Arizona students! We appreciate their hard work and are excited to get the laptops into local classrooms.
Electronics Recycling Event ♻️
Halloween may be over, but there’s still one more treat for your weekend — an easy way to clear out old electronics and support a cleaner, greener Arizona!
Join AZ StRUT and Resolution Copper on Saturday, November 1st at the Superior Enterprise Center, 98 N High School Ave, Superior, AZ 85173 — from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Bring laptops, desktops, cell phones, tablets, audio/video equipment, cables, cameras, printers, calculators, and more.
Note: CRT (tube) TVs and rear-projection TVs are accepted, but have a $1/lb fee due to special handling requirements.
Distribution Story: Roosevelt Elementary 🎓
On October 15th, AZ StRUT teamed up with Laptops 4 Learning to deliver 400 refurbished Chromebooks to students at Roosevelt Elementary School in the Mesa Unified District.
For many of these young learners, this wasn’t just a device — it was the first personal computer they’ve ever owned. The excitement on their faces said it all. With a Chromebook of their own, students now have the ability to explore digital learning platforms, complete homework, develop essential technology skills, and connect with resources that support both their academic and creative growth.
Moments like this highlight the importance of bridging the digital divide and the difference refurbished technology can make in a student’s life. A device that once sat unused or forgotten can be transformed into an opportunity — opening pathways to learning, innovation, and brighter futures.
Together, we are building stronger, more connected communities — one refurbished device at a time.
Kyrene Rotary Club Keeps Tech Turning 🤝
The Kyrene Rotary Club recently spent the day with us at AZ StRUT, rolling up their sleeves and jumping right into the action to help refurbish computers for Arizona students. Members brought incredible energy, teamwork, and a shared passion for giving back.
Volunteers assisted our team in preparing donated technology for reuse — testing, cleaning, and repairing devices ready for classrooms, Techie Labs, and learners across the state.
But Kyrene Rotary didn’t stop at volunteering their time. They went above and beyond by sponsoring a refurbished laptop for an IT student at Mesa Community College, helping a future tech professional stay connected, complete coursework, and continue their journey.
Thank you, Kyrene Rotary Club, for keeping tech turning and empowering the next generation of tech talent!
Support AZ StRUT ❤️
Every device collected, refurbished, and redistributed is part of a larger cycle made possible by community support. Financial contributions help us expand that work by powering Techie Labs, supporting student training, and keeping more technology in use and out of landfills.
