Teen's computer knowledge helps guide him in Boy Scout project
Just for fun, Warren Savich, 16, of Palatine regularly opens up his computer and replaces its RAM and processor.
As an elective this year, the Palatine High School sophomore takes a computer repair class, but he pretty much knew a lot of the material going into it.
Is it any wonder, then, when searching for an Eagle Scout project, the teen turned to his passion for computers?
Warren is a member of Boy Scout Troop 182, which meets at the Presbyterian Church of Palatine. He already has completed most of the 21 required merit badges, but it is his leadership role in the service project that he needs to help earn the award.
"I plan on refurbishing used computers, and distributing them to families who need them," Warren says simply.
Warren says he plans to give these old computers a new lease on life, by installing a Linux operating system, which should deliver faster results.
He already has rebuilt two computers and found families for them through the group that calls itself, "Palatine Assisting Through Hope," or PATH.
On Saturday, Warren will accept donations of used computers, software and components, from noon to 2 p.m. at a collection drive held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1190 N. Hicks Road in Palatine.
"I'm hoping for those with Pentium III processors, but Pentium II will work, too," Warren says.
Partnering with supporters of PATH, worked out for both parties. Savich needed to find families for his computers, while PATH volunteers work first-hand to meet the needs of families in crisis, and those just struggling to pay their bills, in Palatine Township.
Palatine Township takes in all of Palatine, and parts of Rolling Meadows, Inverness, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, South Barrington and Schaumburg.
PATH is a grass-roots organization that responds mostly to immediate needs. Its volunteers provide items and services over and above the help available from the agencies at Palatine Township, and those housed at the Palatine Opportunity Center.
"For an organization like ours, whose mission is to empower families through education and outreach," says Kathy Millin, Palatine Opportunity Center director, "we just can't give them things like this."
Like computers.
Rich Tyack, who helped start PATH, says that many of these families have no computers at home, so they come to the center to use their bank of computers.
"We know there are families out there," Tyack says, "with kids who need computers at home to get their papers done and do their homework."
Both he and Warren figures that it won't just be the children using the computer, and that by making restored computers available, they will empower the entire family.