Elisabeth Handley, County of San Diego Child Welfare Services and Alex Aguirre, County of San Diego Communications Office
In December, local families who open their homes to children in
foster care, also known as resource families, were invited to pick up
free computers. The computers, which were formerly used by County of
San Diego employees, are refurbished by the San
Diego County Futures Foundation and then given to the
families to increase computer and internet access. The annual giveaway
is part of the program, Computers for Resource Families, started in
1999.
Hosted by County of San Diego Child Welfare Services and the San Diego Futures Foundation, the Computers for Foster Families Program supports resource families and bridges the digital divide by increasing computer and internet access for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.
"If I didn't have this computer, I'd have to do my schoolwork on my phone and would not get as good grades," said Extended Foster Care youth Aurora who attended the event in December. "I go to community college and work two jobs, but still can't afford the technology I need. I'm accepting all the help I can get."
Aurora was joined by dozens of other youth in foster care to receive 175 refurbished County-owned computers and laptops. Since the program was established, over 4,000 computers have been donated to those in need.
The Computers for Foster Families Program is a drive-through event where resource families drive up and computers are hand-loaded into their cars by Child Welfare Services staff.
“My granddaughter, who I am getting it for, she is just starting in school, and it is going to be a great deal for her,” said Gary Wheeler, computer recipient. “It is really going to help her grow in her education.”
“We all know that for our kids to compete into the future, to get a world-class education, they need to have a computer and they need to have digital skills,” said Supervisor Joel Anderson, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, who has been part of this effort for the last two years.
“It is one of the great events for San Diego Futures Foundation every year to host this alongside the County,” said Kevin Morningstar, President, San Diego Futures Foundation.
The San Diego Futures Foundation offers low cost computers to qualified individuals any time of the year. Learn more at https://sdfutures.org/for-individuals/
They also offer adaptive technology trainings and free digital literacy training year-round. Learn more at https://sdfutures.org/
Check out the County News Center video of the event below..
County News Center
