Students fix donated computers for agency

STAFF REPORT

SHARON, Pa. — Penn State Shenango’s information, science and technology students are using their computer expertise to help a local social service agency.

The students, under the direction of information science and technology faculty member Brian Patt, are restoring and fixing computer systems donated by the community for a program operated by the Prince of Peace Center in Farrell.

They’ve been at it for several weeks and expect to deliver more than 20 computer systems, most with printers, to the agency later this month.

Joe Flecher, executive director of the Prince of Peace Center, visited the class to explain to the class what receiving one of the computers will mean to his clients.

“The AWESOME [Assistance With Education, Shelter, Organization, Money Management, Employment] program, one of our many programs at the Prince of Peace Center, enables our ‘clients’ to take classes to help them better their lives,” he said. “One particular component of the AWESOME program is to offer computer classes so that people can look for jobs online, compose r sum s and cover letters and help their children with homework.”

Flecher said that once an eligible client has completed 12 classes, his agency will provide that client with one of the restored computer systems.

“You can’t imagine how much they appreciate it,” he said.

Patt began the computer systems’ salvage, repair and donation project this past summer by sending a request to the community asking for donations of unwanted computer systems in conjunction with his IST Hardware Computer course.

The goal of the project was two-fold — first, to teach students how to take apart and fix a computer system, and, second, to choose a worthy local community agency to which to donate the restored computers.

“I couldn’t be more pleased how this project took off with the cooperation from the community and then continued its momentum through the hard work and dedication of our students,” Patt said.

In addition to fixing the computer systems, the students have spent many hours dismantling the unusable parts and systems to salvage and properly dispose of the hard plastic and metal.

“Every working piece of equipment has been fixed and restored,” said Erin Champ, student project manager. “Anything that couldn’t be fixed or used has been separated and will be disposed of properly. One of our goals is to be green with our project as well.”

Prince of Peace Center, an affiliate of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie, provides support for the economic, emotional and spiritual needs of those needing a helping hand to build self-sufficiency.