Every year offers the start of something new for students. But this year, it’s really new.
Kids across the country are going back to school without actually leaving their homes, as many school districts opt for remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This raises a number of challenges for all students and their families, but particularly those families who don’t have access to the technology kids need to attend class online.
That’s why Charlotte, North Carolina organization E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide) says its mission to provide technology and digital access to low-income families is more important than ever.
“We only now have come to realize just how detrimental this divide can be in the teaching and learning process required by COVID-19,” said E2D President Pat Millen. “Charlotte can no longer ignore or be indifferent toward digital access.”
Lowe’s has been a longtime partner of E2D, donating nearly 10,000 refurbished corporate laptops since the group’s inception in 2013. And just before the remote school year began, the two organizations came together once again to provide 400 more laptops to families in need.
Typically, E2D charges a $75 fee for each laptop given to a family, to help provide a sense of ownership. But Lowe’s wanted to lighten the load even more, and contributed $50 per laptop, allowing families to go home with a refurbished computer for only $25. For one recipient, that meant she no longer had to decide between buying gas or a laptop for her kids.
“I just received a check. I hadn’t got a check since June,” the woman told WBTV. “It was less than $250 so I was trying to figure out… I know I needed the computer, but the blessing that I received once getting here was unbelievable.”
The need for laptops is still greater than the amount of technology E2D has to give out, so the organization continues to encourage the community and other business partners to consider donating their unused computers.
"It is such a critical time for Lowe’s to help out in the community," said Randy Alexander, director at Lowe's Tech Hub. "We were able to play an important role by touching the lives of 400 Charlotte-based families through our laptop donation program. As great as this is, there were close to 1,000 families who unfortunately were turned away and not able to get a badly needed laptop."
That's why, Alexander said, Lowe's has and will continue to support this organization and future donation events.
Last year, Lowe’s also contributed to E2D through a grant that allowed the group to build the Lowe’s Re-Image CLT Lab on the campus of Olympic High School. This is one of several labs owned by E2D where they hire high school students to perform the critical refurbishment process, helping prepare them for college and/or careers in technology.