The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Free, new desktop computers available
Cars lined the parking lot May 21 of Church of the Open Door’s Lorain Campus, 1121 Tower Blvd.
As the clouds hung in the blue skies and the sun beat down on volunteers, free desktop computers were passed out to community members.
Local Lorain entrepreneur Bart Gonzalez, owner and operator of Techne, has teamed up with local businesses and organizations to provide families in Lorain County without a computer, a new system.
“I’ve received donations from dozens of individuals, the Lorain Boys & Girls and Clubs, the city of Lorain and the Community Foundation,” Gonzalez said.
Techne offers computer equipment and software.
Gonzalez, who gets his technology from RET 3 in Cleveland, said he wanted to offer Lorain County residents a chance to have access to high quality equipment during the pandemic.
“It’s becoming more apparent that internet and computer technology is a necessity, and there are lots of residents who don’t have access to computers,” he said.
Through thousands of dollars of donations, Gonzalez has been able to provide over 170 computers to those in need.
With some of the donations, requirements were made for people to obtain the computers.
“If the donation came from a business or organization, they have requirements,” Gonzalez said. “For example, the Boys & Girls Clubs donated money for members to receive computers.”
Although some of the donations have requirements, over 50 donations from the local community do not have requirements.
For individual donations, Gonzalez said he and his partners are relying on the honor system.
Gonzalez said he’s not making profit off of the donated computers he supplies.
“I just wanted to be able to provide families and students with computers,” he said. “I’m still selling laptops with the company, but I’m providing the desktops at no cost and I’m not profiting on the desktop sales.”
As schools moved online during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Gonzalez noticed issue popping up in the community with a lack of access to technology.
“There were families who were trying to do lessons with multiple children and work from home on a tablet,” he said. “How were families supposed to complete their work when so many of them didn’t have computers?”
Jamie Hampton, 30, said she had difficulties during the pandemic and was grateful for Gonzalez’s services.
“I don’t have a computer at home and I haven’t had access to the internet at home besides my phone,” Hampton said.
In Lorain County, people frequent the library for internet and computer access, she said.
“I would go to the library to use the computers and so would my daughter,” Hampton said. “But during the pandemic, they were closed, so we had to use the Internet on my phone.”
As part of the program started by Gonzalez, Hampton and 40 others received a new desktop computer including the proper cords, monitor, towers and wireless internet connection.
To pass out the computers. Gonzalez has names of people listed who applied using a Google form.
From there, a team of seven volunteers passed out the technology to community members.
Jason Russ, pastor of the Lorain Campus Church of the Open Door, volunteered the church’s building to store the computers for the distribution.
“It makes all the difference to us to be able to help the community,” Russ said.
“We knew we wanted to get involved and we had a central location for the distribution.”
After passing out the technology, Russ personally passed out a small gift to every car in line.
The gift included a coupon to local businesses Brew & Stew and Broadway Mary’s, as well as a church mug, chocolate and a staff guide.
“I wanted to let everyone know they’re first class guests and they are welcome here,” Russ said.
The distribution process moved swiftly and Hampton said she’s excited about the program running in the county.
“He started something great here,” she said. “Bart did something that’s really good for us and the community.”