For those looking for a tangible way to help the millions of people left injured, homeless or starving by the South Asian tsunami tragedy, the answer may be gathering dust in your closet.

AuctionDrop, the San Carlos, Calif.-based company that resells old items on eBay, said recently it has combined with shipping company UPS to collect used electronic gear to help raise money for a disaster relief fund operated by the global nonprofit group CARE.

To raise money for the relief effort, consumers can drop off their old electronic gear, including computers and cameras, at any UPS store in the United States at no cost.

UPS will deliver the items to AuctionDrop, which will then sell them on eBay and, after deducting what they pay to UPS for shipping, donate the net proceeds to CARE’s Earthquake Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Fund.

An AuctionDrop spokeswoman said the company’s usual guidelines, which call for items to weigh 25 pounds or less and have an assumed value of $75 or more, will apply to the program.

Televisions and computer monitors will not be accepted due to their fragility.

At a time when many in this country are trying out new high-tech gadgets received as holiday gifts, the program provides a way to help those who right now are concerned with more basic needs.

—

(c) 2004, MarketWatch.com Inc.

Visit CBS MarketWatch on the Web at http://cbs.marketwatch.com

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-12-30-04 1813EST