The Heartland Beautification Committee has partnered with Stettler Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) on a new project called Stettler Computer Re-Connect to provide computers to community members and families who may find it difficult to own one.
“We are inviting businesses and the public to drop semi-functional computer equipment off at FCSS,” said Grace Fix, vice-chair, Heartland Beautification Committee and chair, Environmental Action Committee. “One of our Environmental Action Sub-Committee members, Tyler Hudgeon, a computer expert with his own computer business, has volunteered to refurbish these computers for families and community groups as determined by FCSS.”
According to Fix, this way, computers that are no longer in use will help those who have no recourse to one.
Hudgeon, the lead computer expert with this new program, said that although the computers will vary in age and quality, each unit will have a legitimately licensed operating system, an open source office solution for document functionality such as LibreOffice, Open Office, etc. and web readiness.
Unwanted computers may be dropped off at the FCSS office on Main Street.
Expert volunteers from the Heartland Beautification Committee will permanently erase the drives to NSA standards, then refurbish the computers with everything required for basic operation, according to Hudgeon.
“Once the computers are ready to be dispatched, FCSS will determine where the need for them is in our community, thereafter the computer becomes the property of the chosen recipient,” said Hudgeon. “Our only request is that they consider donating it back to our program, through FCSS, if they no longer require it down the road.”
The program will rely on computer donations from individuals, families and businesses around the community.
These computers may be functional, semi-functional, or non-functional.
Accepted items will include desktop computers, laptops, monitors, mice, keyboards, webcams and computer speakers.
“We will require no monetary donations, and will rely solely on used and recycled components during the refurbishing process,” Hudgeon added. “Our goals are to keep computers in local use and help those who can use them.”