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There were a lot of smiles, giggles and eyes big with excitement this week on the faces of youngsters at Danbrook Elementary School where a team from Providence stopped by to donate 65 refurbished iPads to kids who don’t get a lot of breaks.
“You have no idea what this means to the kids,” one teacher told Michele Glover, executive director of Providence Home Care. Most recipients are children in foster homes or those who have no permanent home.
Glover spent months looking for just the right place to donate the computer tablets, no longer needed by the home care staff. They had switched to a new electronic health records program, compatible with laptop use rather than tablets. Glover collected the iPads and bought new chargers and iPad covers in red and blue.
The donation was supported by the Providence Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, which leads a robust effort across Southern California to reach out to communities of color and to address disparities. Danbrook’s enrollment is 93.6 percent minority – primarily Latinx; and 89 percent economically disadvantaged, according to 2021 ratings by U.S. News and World Report.
Azziza Barnes, home care operations manager, and Jimena Ramírez, supply chain coordinator, managed logistics for the donation.
Glover said she can relate to the Danbrook children. Her family lived in a mostly immigrant community such tools were not readily available, a factor that contributes to. She came from a closely knit community gave her a strong foundation for career success.
“I learned that with conviction, grit, hard work and a few angels along the way, you can do anything,” she said.
In opening Tuesday afternoon’s festivities, Glover urged the children to follow their dreams.
“When you have a dream, what matters most is that you nurture the seeds of your passion,” she told the small crowd. “Once you have a vision of a life you wish to create, your career path begins to unfold before you. You take steps to develop your skills and talents through learning, growing, experiencing and having fun. Along the way you will meet amazing people who will help guide and inspire you to continue the journey.”
