The personal touch: Green Machine donates Targus backpacks to three wonderful charities

A Good Thing is an online platform that allows businesses to give things away to their local charities. Less to landfill, more to a good cause! The case study below is an example of the wonderful impact that can be made through these matches.

Donor: Green Machine Computers
Location: Berkshire
What was donated: 100 laptop bags
Sector: IT reuse
Charities that benefitted:
Forces Online CIO
Eight Bells for Mental Health
Prospect Hospice

A veritable Green Machine

True to its name Green Machine recycles electronics and computers – which are then sold or donated as refurbished devices. It joined A Good Thing in 2023, the early days of the platform, and has previously also donated items including speakers, a projector screen, printer cartridges, microphones and even furniture.

This time Green Machine have donated 100 brand-new Targus backpacks via the A Good Thing platform to three charities. These backpacks, which are perfect for work and for carrying laptops, have been given to the following charities in the south-east of England: Forces Online CIO, Eight Bells for Mental Health and Prospect Hospice.

Onnee, Executive Assistant and CSR Champion at Green Machine, explained the organisation’s reason for giving these backpacks away:

“The laptop backpacks were given to us by an organisation looking to recycle their obsolete IT equipment. They often give us computer accessories too, and in this instance, they had lots of brand-new backpacks to dispose of. At Green Machine Computers we aim to divert obsolete IT equipment from landfill, so we were really keen for the Targus bags to not end up in landfill sites too.”

She went on to say:

“We were really pleased to support three different local charities, all with different goals. Since donating the backpacks, we have supported a couple of the charities again. We provided refurbished laptops and tablets at low cost to Forces Online. Additionally, we also did some IT recycling for Prospect Hospice.”

Onnee told us that Green Machine is a big champion of A Good Thing:

“We like to support what you’re doing and try to refer organisations and charities whenever we can. We love what you’re doing, and your vision and mission really resonate with us. We’ll definitely keep sending people your way!”

A practical gift that made a real impact

All three recipient charities are very worthwhile local causes: Forces Online CIO is the Armed Forces Veterans support charity; Eight Bells for Mental Health a mental health charity based in Newbury; and Prospect Hospice is a chain of hospices based in Swindon, Marlborough and north-east Wiltshire.

Len Chappell, Founder and CEO of Forces Online, explained how the bags would be used at Forces Online and why the charity was so pleased to connect with Green Machine:

“I collected a large quantity of laptop bags: some of these are now for sale to raise funds, and some have been donated. As an online veterans’ charity, our team is dotted around the UK and we have been looking for ages for a half-decent supplier of laptops and tablets. Onnee at Green Machine was very approachable and helpful with offering very competitive charity support: I have already been given a first-class deal on refurbished laptops for £100 (which would normally retail for between £250 and £350), and tablets for £50.”

Len is delighted to have made a long-lasting connection with Green Machine:

“Green Machine is fairly local to me – about 10 miles away – so it has been an exceptional find. Previously we used a supplier in Swindon, which was still heavily priced and we also used Amazon and eBay. I very much like the personal touch, which is what we now have.”

Em, Senior Brand and Marketing Manager at Prospect Hospice, was also very happy with the match:

“A Good Thing connected us with a donation of 30 laptop bags from Green Machine Computers – a practical gift that made a real impact. The bags have been distributed across our team, helping staff keep their equipment safe and presentable as they travel between meetings, events and community visits. It’s a small change that’s made a big difference and a reminder that even simple donations can have lasting value. We’re incredibly grateful to A Good Thing for helping us connect with generous businesses who want to make a difference. Their support helps us focus on what matters most: caring for our patients and their families.”

A positive experience

We asked Onnee from Green Machine how easy the platform was to use, and she told us:

“During the process of listing the backpacks and redistributing them, the website was simple and easy to use.”

Len, from Forces Online, said of the experience:

“The whole experience was positive – from start to where we are now.”

Finally, Em, of Prospect Hospice, remarked:

“This was our first time using A Good Thing. It was straightforward and easy, with direct contact from the donor company coming through quickly and effortlessly. We would certainly use A Good Thing again, if and when there are suitable, local connections – which we anticipate as the organisation grows.”

It’s in the bag

Bags have proved to be a really popular donated item on the platform for charities. We love the fact that something so simple can be so useful and appreciated.

Thanks to Green Machine, not only was waste prevented but the backpacks were put to good use by charities – whose budgets would not have enabled them to spend money on such items.