October 27, 2015
Today’s Mobile Citizen story features PCs for People, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit organization committed to digital inclusion. Only 10 days left till the shutdown. Sign our petition today.
Since its formation in 1998, PCs for People has distributed over 40,000 computers to low-income families. In 2012, the organization established a partnership with Mobile Citizen and began offering low-cost Internet service to over 14,000 households — 42,000 individuals who could not afford broadband access otherwise.
The ability to bring their computers online has benefitted PCs for People’s clients, according to Executive Director Casey Sorenson.
“Information is a great equalizer and coupling our computers with Internet has the power to lift the families we are helping out of poverty,” Sorenson said.
While PCs for People wants to help even more families across the country, the organization’s growth is being hampered by the Sprint transition. Already, delays have forced the organization — which currently has offices in Denver, Minneapolis and Mankato, Minn. — to close an office in Fargo, while requests for new offices in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Oakland, Calif., hang in the balance.
“Our business has been built to supply computers and Internet,” Sorenson said. “Internet is currently half of what we do. Without it not only will 24,000 kids lose their connection, but instead of growing, PCs for People will downsize.”
If you agree that organizations like PCs for People should be allowed to grow and help even more families across the country, please sign our petition.