NEW YORK — It’s a story you might remember. Seven years ago this New Yorker of the Week made air.

Becky Morrison founded “Globetops,” a nonprofit that collects old donated laptops, refurbishes them, and gives them to those in need. It was this story that inspired fellow New Yorker Marco Lao to join the cause.

“It was a very practical and simple solution to a very complicated problem,” Lao said.

What You Need To Know

  • Globetops is an organization that collects outdated and donated technology, refurbishes it and then gives it away for free to those who, with access to something like a laptop, would be able to achieve so much more in life

  • Originally the organization predominately sent laptops overseas, but when the pandemic disrupted international travel and deliveries, the organization pivoted, seeing a need for laptops here in NYC, especially among public school kids learning remotely

  • Marco Lao said if a device is collecting dust in your home, just donate it so that someone who can't afford their own won't be left behind

Since joining seven years ago, Lao has taken on many jobs. He writes grants, provides tech support and is even a courier dedicating his time to a project he knows changes lives.

“Devices that are even seven years old can be a tremendous help to a student who has nothing,” Lao said.

In the beginning, Globetop’s main recipients lived in countries like Guinea and India. Then came 2020 and a worldwide pandemic shutting down international laptop deliveries. The team quickly became aware of a greater need, right here at home.

“I think I was always aware of the digital divide and the need here in New York but the pandemic really exacerbated that,” Morrison said.

With remote learning as the only option for students, many struggled without access to computers. With the help of media articles, Lao asked for people to donate any old devices that may be collecting dust at home.

“The next thing we knew, New Yorkers from every corner of the state rose to the occasion and just started donating devices. Before we knew it we were supplying entire schools with devices who were just ecstatic with it,” Lao said.

Laptops, desktop computers, and even phones started pouring in with Lao and another volunteer refurbishing each item as quickly as possible. Over the last two years, Globetops gifted more than 600 laptops across all five boroughs.

“We will come get it and this will change someone’s life. This could make or break their education. This could give them access to things that they never even imagined possible,” Bird said.

“Bringing a child an experience and letting them know that someone out there is looking out for them, is something that really resonates with me,” Lao added.

For refurbishing an old cause with a closer address, Marco Lao is our New Yorker of the Week.