Take Stock in Children of Manatee to collect donated laptops

Take Stock in Children of Manatee County are working to collect used computer laptops for students. 

• Take Stock in Children of Manatee to collect donated laptops
• Drop off location at 2501 63rd Ave E, Bradenton FL 34203

With college applications, financial aid forms, and SAT & ACT prep all being done online now, students without a laptop they can use at home or at the library are at a disadvantage. 

"We were shocked to learn that many of our scholars are completing their homework assignments and even writing college essays on their cell phones," says Cheryl Evans, Take Stock Manatee's Program Coordinator.  "It adds another barrier to our scholars.  Without the necessary resources, it's even harder for our scholars to get into a great college to get the career that will break the cycle of poverty."

The Take Stock in Children program teamed up Sarasota PC Users Group to collect the used laptops. 

The Sarasota PC User's Group employs software similar to that used by the U.S. Department of Defense to completely eliminate all data on the hard-drives.  That way all personal information is deleted from someone's donated laptop. 

Anyone that wants to donate their unused, broken, or even barely used laptops can bring them to the TSIC-M Administration office located in the School District of Manatee County's Professional Support Center:  2501 63rd Ave E, Bradenton FL 34203. 

The Sarasota PC User's Group will see to it that the unit is taken to the shop for repair - then provided to Take Stock Manatee Scholars so they can achieve their potential in school, in college and beyond.