Please donate used equipment to help the community

The Cranbrook Computer Donation Program is holding a community donation day Friday, January 19, at the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce office.

The Computer Donation Program is a tripartite partnership with the Salvation Army, Kootenay Computer and the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce working in concert to refurbish computer equipment for donation to community members who are unable to purchase their own computer.

“There is a real need to bridge the digital divide here in Cranbrook,” said Kootenay Computer’s Sebastiaan van der Horst.  “This day and age kids cannot complete their homework, you cannot apply for a job or even check the rec centre schedule without a computer.  A computer is not a luxury, it is essential and not everyone can afford one.”

The program has been running for 14 months with the chamber collecting used equipment, Kootenay Computer refurbishing and installing new software and the Salvation Army working with the community to ensure the limited supply of computers ends up with those most needing a hand up.

The goal of the program is to distribute 150 computers over three years.  In the first year over 65 computers were donated. The roadblock to continued success is a shortage of donated equipment.

“Friday, January 19, School District No. 5 is donating 50 used computers to the program. We want to celebrate this generous donation by making a community day of it and asking the entire community to join in and donate their used equipment,” said van der Horst. “We have a number of other technicians from around Cranbrook joining the effort to assist in the initial sorting and testing of equipment.”

If you have equipment to donate please bring it to the chamber office at 2279 Cranbrook Street North, beside Lordco, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Laptops, desktops, and flat screen monitors will be gratefully accepted and will go a long way to helping the community.

Call 250-426-5914 for more information.

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