IT Donations Help Social Care Agency Implement VoIP Telephony
Crosscare a Dublin-based social care agency, addresses poverty-related issues like drug dependency and homelessness by operating a number of homeless shelters. The staff of nearly 200 tackles a wide range of needs for the underprivileged in the Dublin area.
While some programs are popular with funders, others are harder to receive donations for. Upgrading the organization's IT systems turned out to be a difficult task, even with community assistance through donations of personal computers. Crosscare turned to ENCLUDEit, a technology donation program run by a TechSoup Global Network partner, to make its plans reality.
Product donations included Microsoft Windows and Exchange server software, Windows XP Professional upgrades, and Office Professional Plus 2007. In addition, the organization received a Cisco ASA 5505 Security Appliance, 24 Port Ethernet, and a power over Ethernet switch. The new technology increased networking capability and network security. This allowed the organization to push for plans to equip itself with VoIP telephony, reducing communications costs and freeing up more of Crosscare's budget for direct services.
