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
Helicopter carrying Iran's hard-line president apparently crashes in foggy, mountainous region
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
4 homes lost due to wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning near Fort Nelson, B.C., completely destroyed four homes and damaged six more properties, according to an update from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
French security forces work to regain control of airport highway in violence-scorched New Caledonia
Using armoured vehicles and backhoes to shove aside charred barricades, French security forces worked Sunday to retake control of the highway to the international airport in violence-scorched New Caledonia, shuttered because of deadly unrest wracking the French Pacific archipelago where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'