Students in training is currently in need of computer donations

The Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont launched Students-in-Training (SiT) in 2023 with a grant from the United Way of Iredell – Endowment for the Future. SiT is a vocational trading course offered on the main campus at 1001 Cochran Street in South Statesville.

SiT serves middle and high school students in the after-school and summer camp programs. Program Director Terri Gonzalez outlined the mission of SiT, “We have three goals for our program – teach our students marketable technology skills, keep e-waste out of local landfills, and bridge the digital divide by donating refurbished computers to those in need.”

SiT accomplished these goals by receiving donated computers. Students are taught to assess the devices upon arrival at the Club. Computers that can be refurbished are cleaned; hard drives are erased, loaded with new software, and donated to other non-profits or citizens in the community who need a computer. Computers that cannot be refurbished are cannibalized for parts and sold to local contractors. Ms. Gonzalez states, “We are fortunate to have two strategic partners in Statesville. L. Gordon Iron & Metal and Sprout are local companies that buy and recycle our computer parts. Surprisingly, 98% of a computer can be recycled. The proceeds from part sales are returned to our program to sustain SiT.”

SiT has been remarkably successful. More than 40 students completed the class thus far. Ms. Gonzalez reports, “We have established a partnership with E2D, a nonprofit from Davidson, which has assisted us with two community distribution events staged at the Club. To date, SiT has recycled 6,700 pounds of e-waste and distributed over 400 laptops and desktops to local citizens and other non-profits needing technology.” She further says, “Our next goal is for our

students to teach technology classes in the community for citizens that do not have the skills to use a desktop or laptop. We are serious about bridging the digital divide and improving the quality of citizen’s lives.”

SiT has received used donated devices from Iredell Health Systems, Iredell County

Government, US Department of Health & Human Services, Provision Document

Solutions Company, Coffey, Lovins & Company, PLLC and Pope, McMillan, Kutteh, P.A. and many individual donors. SiT is certified to grant a Certificate of Destruction to donors, which certifies that the device's hard drive has been cleaned.

SiT is currently in need of computer donations, both desktops and laptops. If you or your company or business can support SiT, please contact Terri Gonzalez at the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont by phone at 704-397-2427/ 615-713-8480 or email her at [email protected] You can also visit SiT’s website at https://piedmontbgc.org/students-in-training/ and follow/like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SiTatBGCP/