Cape & Islands News

Laptops for KidZ places second of the “TD Bank Dozen” at Wellfleet Elementary School

Second of the "TD Bank Dozen" finds a home in Wellfleet

Wellfleet Elementary School principal Mary Beth Rodman shows off the laptop gifted by the Masonic Angels to assist a child facing visual perception challenges. LFK photo.

The Laptops for KidZ project of the Masonic Angel Foundation has placed the second of the dozen IBM ThinkPad’s donated by TD Bank last week.  This article is the second in an exclusive Cape Cod Today series that follows each of the “TD Bank Dozen” laptops.

Dr. Maggie Mack, School Counselor at Wellfleet Elementary School, was sitting in her office on June 1st when her phone rang.  On the line was a volunteer from the Laptops for KidZ program, calling to discuss the availability of the TD Bank computers.  As Dr. Mack related to Masonic Angel Foundation President Robert Fellows yesterday, “That call was a lifesaver!  We have two students who will benefit greatly from Masonic Angels’ help and support.”  The MAF agreed to provide a TD Bank IBM ThinkPad for each child. This article profiles the first of those two laptop deliveries, made on June 7th.

“That call was a lifesaver!” - Dr. Maggie Mack on the call from an LFK volunteer.

TD Bank Laptop #2 was provided for an eight-year-old child described by Dr. Mack as a youngster who “due to visual difficulties, needs to use a computer for all written communication and expression.  Software that reads what is written will also be placed on the computer to help this student.”  Likely a software package published by Kurzweil Educational Systems will be installed on the laptop to facilitate the text-to-speech function.  “This type of supportive technology can make an enormous difference in the life of this child,” said Dr. Mack.

The school had the funding to purchase the software but there was not an appropriate computer available on which to operate the software.

This laptop was placed in Wellfleet by the LFK volunteer staff on behalf of Winslow Lewis-Adams Masonic Angel Fund chapter that serves children in Wellfleet.  MAF co-founder Fellows delivered the computer to Dr. Maggie Mack and Wellfleet Elementary principal Mary Beth Rodman.  Winslow Lewis-Adams Masonic Angel Fund has served Wellfleet’s children since 2000.  Winslow Lewis Lodge was the fifth Masonic Lodge to sponsor a chapter of the program that was first established at Universal Lodge in Orleans back in 1998.  The Masonic Angel Foundation oversees 142 chapters in twelve states.

Established in March, Laptops for KidZ (LFK) places laptop computers with local schools to be sent home with children who would not otherwise have computer access outside school hours.  LFK tries to focus on situations where there is a demonstrated educational need for which the school has a plan that involves use of a computer to address that need.

For the technically inclined, the “TD Bank Dozen” are refurbished by LFK volunteers under the rigorous guidelines of Microsoft’s Registered Refurbisher Program.    Prior to delivery to the Foundation, TD Bank’s IT contractor “zapped” the hard drives to remove and overwrite any vestigial data.  LFK volunteers installed an official copy of Microsoft Windows XP Professional along with Open Office, Adobe Reader and Avast! Anti-Virus.  LFK also installed a brand new Belkin WiFi card in each machine.  Microsoft provides Windows XP licenses to Laptops for KidZ at a price project director Mario Mere refers to, “…as close to free as you can get.”

TD Bank’s Larry Squire, who arranged the bank’s donation, was introduced to the Laptops for KidZ program by Cape and Islands United Way president Richard Brothers.

As with all activities of the Masonic Angel Foundation, 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.  LFK computers are configured in English and are only available to legal residents of the United States.  The TD Bank laptops are eligible to be placed between Plymouth and Provincetown through local Masonic Angel Fund chapters.

LFK accepts functional notebook computers. "Functional" means that the laptop will power up and is accompanied by its proper AC adapter. LFK does not accept donations of desktops, monitors or any Apple product.  Donations to the 501(c)(3) Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc. are tax deductible.

For more information about the Laptops for KidZ program visit www.laptopsforkidZ.org.

Read more on the Laptops for KidZ program below:

• Masonic Angels gifts a Laptop for Kidz to Truro School
• TD Bank donates a dozen computers to Laptops for KidZ
• Masonic Angels gifting laptops to our schools