Calgary charity gifted dozens of refurbished laptops for women in need
The Calgary Women in Need Society (WINS) has been given a significant tech donation to help its clients.
Non-profit organization Electronic Recycling Association (ERA), along with law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, has gifted WINS 43 refurbished laptops.
“They will change lives,” WINS president Karen Ramchuk said. “Everything we do, we do because of Calgarians and their generosity.”
The organization runs community programs for in-need women and their families. The laptops will be passed out to help with everything from adult employment services to teaching girls how to code.
ERA founder and CEO Bojan Paduh hopes the donation will help bridge the "digital divide."
"We believe that access to technology is essential in today's digital age, and by donating these laptops, we hope to contribute to the advancement and enrichment of the community," he said.
“It’s not a luxury anymore to have a computer,” staff member Julia Armstrong added. “It’s important for professional reasons, it’s important for personal reasons: it just helps in so many different ways.”
The ERA was founded in 2004 to address the growing problem of e-waste and to help those in need with unused items. Utilizing recovery, refurbishment and reuse, ERA is known for supplying charitable groups with donated IT equipment.
WINS currently operates six thrift store locations and a donation centre, helping more than 17,000 people in Calgary — roughly 20 per cent of the city’s poverty population.
To learn more about what it does, or how you can help, visit its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.