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PC Charity Seeks Larger Warehouse

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

BRANDON - A charity specializing in refurbishing computers for students and missionaries who can't afford to buy them is outgrowing its space.

"Not only have we run out of space, but someone tried to break in and busted up our locks and damaged the door," said John Devine, owner of Devine Computer Solutions. "So, we're also looking for a safer space."

His small warehouse is tucked in the back of the Sweetbay plaza at Kingsway and Windhorst Roads.

"We're hoping to get a rent discount," Devine said. Or, with the real estate slump leaving so many spaces empty, he hopes someone will donate space and use it as a tax write-off because his company is a state-registered nonprofit agency.

Devine and his wife, Tambera, started the business in 2001 in their dining room, but they quickly ran out of space as donations of discarded computers poured in.

They started renting space at the Sweetbay plaza in 2004.

"We were able to give away over 75 computers in the three months before Christmas," Devine said. "We also gave away seven laptops to mis- sionaries. So, we've distributed computers to four different continents."

Ethenia McHenry's grandchildren were among the recipients. The Tampa woman said her teenage grandson and 11-year-old granddaughter are using the computer to research school projects.

Last year, Devine delivered four computers to Hillsborough Baptist School in Seffner.

Devine said requests for refurbished computers continue to flood in, and the company has a waiting list of about 60 people. Twenty computers are ready for delivery, he said.

Devine Computer Solutions can be reached at (813) 685-2272.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or at yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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