I want to thank the folks in Benton County for sharing the story on how they are working with PCs for People to get computers in the hands of residents in the County…

In April, Living Connected in Benton County partnered with PCs for People to distributed twenty-seven refurbished computers to Benton County four organizations. Organizations receiving computers included Independent Lifestyles in Sauk Rapids, Heritage of Foley, Good Shepherd Community in Sauk Rapids as well as the City of Rice.

Perry Rollings, Foundation Director and Vice-President of Community Partnerships, with Good Shepherd Community said, “The computers are being used in central locations in our facility by senior residents.“ Rollings indicated that some of the benefits of these computers includes; improved communication with family via email, Facebook and Skype, community awareness and involvement, and more control of personal affairs such as online banking and ordering groceries online. Rollings stated, “There has been an immediate decrease in symptoms of depression in that residents don’t feel isolated and/or geographically separated from those that they care for or have interest in.”

Kristen Rucks, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at Heritage of Foley said, “Our residents and tenants have benefited by having more options for communication and entertainment by having computers more available.”

PCs for People, a non-profit organization with offices in St. Paul and Mankato, takes in donated computers and then rebuilds, refurbishes and redistributes them to people with limited access to technology. For more information about PCs for People or to donate a used computer, visit www.pcsforpeople.com or call 651-354-2552.

Living Connected in Benton County www.bentoncountyconnected.org is a project partner in the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities Initiative (MIRC). MIRC is a coalition of 19 statewide partners and 11 demonstration communities funded in large part through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. The work of the coalition focuses on bringing the full promise of broadband technologies to rural Minnesota communities, businesses and people. Blandin Foundation serves as the project administrator. More about MIRC is available at www.blandinfoundation.org.