It Takes All Kinds!

As many of you know, I started an organization called BC Digital Divide. Here's a brief description of what we do:

The focus of our organization is on helping people bridge the proverbial "digital divide". Our mission is to provide less fortunate people with a computer, as well as to provide the children in these homes with outstanding educational and vocational opportunities that they would not normally have access to.

Though all the computer equipment is provided at no cost to those receiving it, please understand that many hours of work are donated by volunteers to make available computers that are in perfect running order. Those volunteering their time and those donating the equipment are doing so on the implicit trust that the designated recipients truly can't afford to buy a computer on their own.

We encourage you to think very carefully about this before you apply. For there are truly needy people out there who do need our help.

The second and third paragraphs are our only checks to try to ensure that only needy people get computers from us. We simply didn't want to start examining tax returns or anything of the sort, like some people suggested we should. Having personally been in the homes of many recipients, it's clear that most people respect this and only apply if their need is real.

I just heard from one of our volunteers about someone who was anything but in need. He pulled up in a brand new BMW SUV to claim his computer. Our volunteer was stunned but gave him the computer anyway, not wanting to be judgemental. I'm not sure I would have been so obliging. In fact, I plan to get this person's contact info and firmly request that they either return the computer or make a $500 donation to a local charity. They probably won't do either but at least they'll know that their dishonourable actions haven't gone unnoticed.

Indeed, such events do irk me but thankfully this kind of thing only happens once in a blue moon!