Monthly Update - April 2023
The first month of the fiscal year is over, and what a month April was!
A massive thank you to our hardworking technicians who shipped 84 orders out the door. 22 of those 84 orders were for 10+ computers or laptops. Great work, everyone - our total was 535 devices this month!
In 2014 we rebranded from Computers for Schools BC to BC Technology for Learning Society (our legal name) because we wanted to expand the outreach of our work to individuals. At the same time, we launched the “Computers for Students” initiative to help low income students be able to afford a computer for home. The program has proven to be very successful and we ship ~300 computers each year. But, times change and so do client needs. What we’ve been seeing is more people, especially seniors who are not going to school, requesting a device so they can access the internet. Effective April 1st, we rebranded the ‘Computers for Students’ program to Tech for Home to recognize the last place where the digital divide exists.
We have extended a warm welcome to Luke as the Administrative Assistant. If you recognize Luke from previous posts, it’s because he started as a CFS Intern. We’re lucky to get to keep him around! Not only does Luke have the benefit of understanding the organization, his work as a technician makes him knowledgeable and ideal to answer questions as he’ll be responding to client application forms and updating them on when their packages are ready to ship. Luke also has a voice made for radio, so naturally we’ll be featuring him in more of our social media and video content. Prepare to see more of his smiling face.
One of our interns, Manpreet did not complete his internship because he successfully found new employment with S.U.C.C.E.S.S at their I.T. help desk. It’s a great mark of the CFS Internship program when technicians leave early for new roles. If anyone is looking for other IT staff, we have a few more interns who will be competing for their work experience on June 30!
A former intern from 2002 is now working as a teacher and he came in to pick up some equipment found on the Featured Inventory page. It’s always great to learn where people end up after their internship with us and how their time with us impacted their careers.
Thanks to everyone who made a donation this month including TELUS, Relic Entertainment,, Arc’teryx Equipment, and a number of Government of Canada departments. A special thank you to Restwell Sleep Products for being a new donor in April.
Planning for our annual Donor Recognition event is well underway. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at TELUS Garden in June. It promises to be a wonderful event. Keep an eye out for your invitation.
For over 15 years, we have sponsored the Skills Canada BC provincial competition by providing equipment for the 10 different IT competitions. Everyone loves a field trip, and Aaron and Scott were on site at the Tradex in Abbotsford on April 19th to help with the installation/ tear down for the event and to assist with any IT issues (thankfully, there were none!). Skills Canada is a great event for showcasing different areas of work in the trades and we wish all the BC competitors good luck and bonne chance at the Nationals in Winnipeg, May 25-26.
Coming up in May, keep your eyes peeled for an article on Business in Vancouver’s website, where we will be sharing how BC Tech helps British Columbians in need, and highlighting the various benefits of donating your tech.
Your Donations Matter!
