Dear Action Line: I have read about a group that takes old computers and rebuilds them for kids to use at home. What kinds of computers does it take, and how do I find the group? I have one to donate. -- L.R., Tulsa.

Tulsa Computer Society: Don Singleton, president of the Tulsa Computer Society, accepts donations of computers at his home, 3311 S. 127th East Place. Call him first at 622-3417.

The society's volunteers refurbish these for schools, churches, libraries and nonprofit agencies, including low-income housing projects. The group still takes older computers but prefers to refurbish Pentium 2's, 3's and 4's.

Under the project name Helping Tulsa, they refurbish donated computers at two locations: Singleton's home and the Bethesda Boys Ranch.

Bethesda Adult Life Training Center: Also known as Bethesda Boys Ranch (http://helpingtulsa.org/where/bethesda.htm, phone number 827-6409), it takes 486s and later models only. Refurbishing is done by the Tulsa Computer Society. Call Matt Inda at 827-3716 or (310) 735-3310 (cell) to see when he or someone else will be at the ranch and to get directions to it.

The group

Tulsa Cornerstone Assistance Network: This is a Work Opportunity Center for homeless and unemployed people who fix Pentium 2 or newer computers for distribution through the charity. It can be found online at www.tulsacan.org or in person at 1120 N. Peoria Ave. Steve Searle is the project director for computer distribution.

Call 583-3670 for an appointment to donate used computers to help churches and ministries start labs to teach basic computer skills to kids and adults. Its trainers oversee and instruct needy individuals in hardware and software skills.

Cornerstone collects, refurbishes and distributes computers to churches, schools, ministries, nonprofit organizations and low-income families.

PC Power: This nonprofit corporation, found online at www.tulsapcpower.org or by calling 493-8052, collects and refurbishes used computers (Pentium 3 or newer), software, peripherals and spare parts. It also accepts fax machines and photocopiers, even if they don't work.

Its Web site lists the locations of "community-wide computer drop-off sites." It also accepts older computers for recycling "in an environmentally responsible way."

It doesn't charge a specified fee for such drop-offs but suggests $10, as this is what many area communities are charging for disposal of each computer, monitor, fax machine and printer because of their heavy metal content.

Each year the group donates refurbished computers to all the kids in a low-income school.

Submit Action Line questions to 699-8888 or by e-mail at phil.mulkins@tulsaworld.com. Action Line pursues consumer complaints submitted with photocopies of documentation to Tulsa World Action Line, P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102-1770.