Have you ever thought about how integrated a computer has become into our daily lives?
We use our computers to apply for jobs, attend virtual meetings, build a resume, and further our careers. We have check-ins with the doctor, manage our bank accounts, and sign important documents. I even bought a house without ever going into the mortgage lender’s office. We communicated everything over phone calls and email.
Our children use a computer to complete homework, receive learning support from various mediums, and apply for college. All of us use computers for research and learning for academics, jobs, and hobbies. We plan trips, use our vast digital libraries, and engage with our communities.
Did you know that in Louisiana 1 in 5 families do not have a computer in their home? These families fully rely on a smart phone or a public computer in a library or a community center. A computer in the home can bring new opportunities, economic mobility, and hope.
Here, at CACRC, we recycle, refurbish, and redistribute devices with the goal of bringing digital access and digital opportunity throughout Louisiana. A couple of weeks ago, we attended a job fair with the Ascension Parish library and distributed laptops to individuals who are actively seeking jobs and do not have a computer in their home. This was a part of a grant we received from the Capital Area United Way. We received some of the following feedback:
“Thank you so much! For me, having my own computer is better than Christmas. I have wanted this for so long.”
“You don’t understand how much this will help me. I have been coming to the library every day to look for and apply for jobs. It means so much that I now have internet and a computer and can do this from home.”
“I am a single dad and really trying to be on the up-and-up to take care of my daughters and give them everything they need.”
These are just a few examples of how digital access brings stability, opportunity, and hope into people’s homes by supporting individuals and families in overcoming a major barrier in their lives.
Remember that here at CACRC, we recycle with purpose and connect with impact.
