Source: The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.self storageC.July 28--DURHAM -- With all the work the Kramden Institute is doing in the community, it's no surprise that the nonprofit is having to double its space to keep up with its already hectic pace.Kramden, which provides computers to those in need, recently signed a lease for the suite next door and will soon double its space from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet."We're literally bursting at the seams," said Cari Delmariani, director of programs at Kramden. "We've had so many people volunteer that we've had to turn people away. This is a huge thing for us. We're even adding classrooms to do digital literacy classes for the community."With construction slated to begin this week, Delmariani said that it's best for people to track the progress via the Kramden Institute Facebook page, where pictures and updates will be posted."The construction will take at least a month. We won't have any open volunteer events until probably September," she said. "We've been planning for the summer so we have some machines on hand so the construction shouldn't affect our output."The output that Delmariani is referring to is the organization's goal of distributing 3,000 computers this year to those in need. She said that so far Kramden is about halfway there.Delmariani explained that the new space will allow for institute to spread out and break up into clearly defined storage and work spaces along with an area where computers are awarded to recipients.As volunteers hustled and bustled about during the most recent -- and last one until construction finishes -- Wednesday Work Night, others were giving suggestions on carpet samples and paint swatches for the new space.Some were leaning more toward some blues while others were in favor of the warmer yellows and oranges. The excitement about the impending expansion was obvious, even among the nonprofit's founder, Mark Dibner.What started out as a simple project with his son, Ned, in their basement to help children who didn't have access to a computer in their homes has blossomed into a venture that has had a tremendous impact on the community.Their flagship program, Kramden Tech Scholars, assists students in third through 12th grades with a working, home computer. Students are nominated by an educator and once a student is assigned to a computer, an appointment is scheduled to pick up the computer迷你倉"It's just one of those things that's taken on a life of its own," Dibner said. "We've had about 8,000 different people volunteer."Among the volunteers are stacks and pallets of computers waiting to be evaluated and refurbished for distribution throughout Durham and the rest of the state."We get computer donations from big companies, small companies, individuals, anyone who wants to donate their old computer," Delmariani said. "LabCorp is our biggest donor. They give us about 15 to 22 pallets of computers and equipment a month."The first step is triage where we open up the machines, see what's inside them, add what we need so that it meets our specifications and test the hardware. Step two is cleaning. It's the least technical part but one of the most important. When we give kids computers, we want them to be proud of it."And step three is loading the operating system," she said. "We use Ubermix. It's a Linux-based computer software that is virtually virus proof. Then step four is the final test."Detailed instructions ensure that anyone at least 12 years old can come in at any skill level and help Kramden do its work.Jennifer Castillo, a student at Durham Technical Community College, received one of Kramden's refurbished desktop computers during Wednesday's work session. Having recently finished her GED Castillo is now taking college courses as she works toward a degree in criminal justice.Castillo said that she was excited when she found out a month ago that she was getting a computer from Kramden."They've changed a few things at Durham Tech, like my math classes are all online, so I really need this."Aside from the new building, Kramden Institute has implemented two other programs since it began in 2003 that allow it to better serve the community.The Tech Equipment Partners program provides local nonprofits with discounted computer equipment including servers and custom OS loads.The Tech Community Partners program allows Kramden to provide reduced cost computers to people who aren't students but are in need of a computer and received services from specific agencies including Durham Technical Community College, the Center for Child and Family Health and First in Families in North Carolina.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.) Visit The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.) at www.heraldsun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services文件倉
文章標籤
全站熱搜
