Local tech organizations are partnering to get laptops into the hands of underprivileged kids!
With so many school-aged children being forced into e-learning for the 2020-2021 school year, there is growing concern about whether low-to-moderate income households have a sufficient number of laptops or other devices so that all children have the proper tools they need.
Thus, local organizations came together with a goal to ensure no child left behind! And the laptop donation drive was born.
Think Big for Kids, Tampa Bay Wave (Wave), eSmart Recycling and Tampa Bay Tech (TBT) are joining forces to help local underprivileged teens gain access to devices to support their virtual learning needs through a three-day laptop and tablet drive, Sept. 1-3. Collected devices will be distributed to middle and high school members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.
- Donated laptops and tablets can be new or used, working or not.
- Individuals and companies can drop off their devices at the Tampa Bay Wave office, located at 500 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 300, Tampa, 33602. Drop off times will run Sept. 1-3, from 12-7 p.m.
- eSmart Recycling will scrub, refurbish and reload laptops and tablets with Microsoft licenses and other educational applications. Donation questions can be directed to info@esmartrecylcing.com.
“We believe local youth are the future of Tampa Bay, so it’s imperative that the community pulls together to help all kids forced to deal with the current e-learning challenges, especially for struggling families who cannot provide devices for every child in the home,” said Linda Olson, CEO of Tampa Bay Wave. Our goal is to ensure no child is left behind; to make sure every single local school-age child has the tools they need to succeed.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay are open during the day to teens attending Hillsborough County virtual school, giving them a safe place to access the internet and learn online. After school, teens will be able to participate in Think Big for Kids programming, including Virtual Career Showcases, Virtual Skill Building and Job Readiness Workshops, and a Virtual Career Fair to be presented to the kids via Zoom and through video-based learning platforms.
