Cape & Islands News

Masonic Angels gifting laptops to our schools

Laptops for KidZ project
The Masonic Angel Foundation provides a dozen laptops to Cape's schools

MaryEllen Reed, School Nurse at the Orleans Elementary School, showcases a refurbished Toshiba Satellite notebook computer that was provided for a family in need by the Laptops for KidZ project of the Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc.

The Laptops for KidZ project placed its first laptop computer yesterday at Orleans Elementary School. Formed in March, Laptops for KidZ is a project of the Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc.

Laptops for KidZ (LFK) refurbishes donated laptop computers and then places them with area schools which, in turn, send the computers home with children who would not otherwise have home computer access.

Speedy Angel response

School nurse MaryEllen Reed contacted the Foundation office at 2 p.m. on Tuesday to request a laptop for a single parent family with two young children. A refurbished Toshiba Satellite notebook was delivered to the school 45 minutes later.

Laptops for KidZ project manager Mario Mere explains, "We know that a child without home computer access suffers a growing educational disadvantage the further they progress in school. The local school professionals that partner with our Masonic Angel Fund chapters identify a child who would benefit from access to a computer after school hours.

The school professional - usually a nurse or administrator - contacts the local Masonic Angel Fund and they reach out to the Laptops for KidZ volunteers. If a laptop is ready to go we will get it to the school as quickly as possible."

As with all activities of the Masonic Angel Fund, the program's volunteers never know the identity of a recipient child. All transactions are conducted at arm's length with the school professionals working as a go-between to preserve privacy. LFK does not accept direct requests from potential recipients. All requests must come through a school or other partner agency.

More information is available at laptopsforkidZ.org

Laptops for KidZ (LFK) has additional computers ready to go as soon as the schools request them.

LFK accepts functional notebook computers. "Functional" means that it will power up and is accompanied by its proper AC adapter. LFK does not accept donations of desktops, monitors or any Apple product whatsoever.