80 local families receive free refurbished computers

Families with children selected by school officials lined up at Carpinteria Middle School on Thursday to receive computers.

The Santa Barbara County Education Office’s Partners in Education program distributes refurbished computers to families in need.

Each family is selected by school officials.

The program was created in 1996. Since then, more than 11,000 families have been given access to technology in their homes. The goal is to help students overcome barriers to student success in public education.

“It is helping to bridge the digital divide locally. many barriers to students success involve technology in the home or lack thereof, and so this programs work on eliminating that barrier and giving them access to the technology that they need to complete homework assignments, communicate with their families and friends and just be on the same playing field as their peers,” said Chelsea Duffy, executive director of Partners in Education.

The nonprofit is always looking for donations of gently used computers and hardware. For more information on how to donate or about Partners in Education, visit the nonprofit’s website.