2020 brought with it countless changes for individuals around the globe. As the deadly coronavirus began spreading across continents, with the first known cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.A. identified in the state of Washington in January 2020, change began sweeping the nation. Businesses and schools shuttered their doors, family members lost their jobs or experienced major shifts in their work, and seeing friends and family members outside of our household became a distant hope. Looking back, many months of 2020 were filled with uncertainty and fear. However, in those moments of uncertainty, we saw our local communities stepping up... The COVID-19 pandemic has hit families and communities hard. During these past months, many students, families, and professionals have struggled to work, learn, and access services remotely due to a lack of internet or a home computer. Recognizing this need, Computer Reach is excited to announce the official launch of our Computer Lottery Program.
How Does the Lottery Program Work?
Due to the high demand for computers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Computer Reach is launching our new Computer Lottery Program. Each week up to sixteen people in the Pittsburgh area will be selected to win a free desktop computer... Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania, local businesses, libraries, and community centers have closed their doors or limited their services to the public at this time. Because of this, families who would typically visit those locations to access a computer and the internet have been left with limited or no access to digital services during the pandemic. To help get these families connected, Computer Reach is officially launching a "Curbside Pickup" option for community members to purchase affordable technologies in person at the Computer Reach Warehouse in Pittsburgh. In addition to... In February 2020, Computer Reach started packing its bags to begin its journey to a new Warehouse location in the Wilkinsburg community of Pittsburgh. Thanks to a wonderful group of volunteers, Computer Reach was able to fully complete the move by February 29, with doors officially opening at the new location on March 1, 2020. Our organization is thankful for the 10 years we spent at our previous Warehouse in Construction Junction, sharing the space with great neighbors including the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, and others. Additionally, Computer Reach... In the 21st century, technological skills and digital literacy aren't an option, they're a requirement. Accessing information, paying bills, even submitting job applications, schools and employers are actively transitioning from in-hand paperwork to online documents. Systems are becoming faster and more efficient, eliminating the worries of messy handwriting or lost files. However, with these transitions, something important is being left behind: the people.
Understanding the Divide As technology becomes increasingly available for purchase at stores and online, accessibility remains a major challenge for the individuals who really need it. With barriers such as cost, broadband access, digital literacy,...