Changes to Our Donation Process due to COVID-19
We are currently accepting donations for computers and laptops in a revised manner to ensure we can follow health and safety procedures to protect our warehouse staff and technicians. The change includes asking donors to box or pallet their donation up, including their completed donor form  and wait a week before bringing it over at an appointed time. Please contact Jim at 604-294-6886 ext 3 or DonorRelations@reusetechbc.ca to arrange an appointment for donations. This will reduce the number of touch points for staff and give time for any viruses or germs to die.
 
Other Workplace Changes
We have made several changes to our workshop procedures to create a safe working environment for our technicians.  Some changes we have made include:

• Donors or clients can only come with appointments
• Limiting how many technicians are in the workshop at once for social distancing
• Several scheduled disinfectant wipe downs of equipment and commonly used objects throughout the day
• Providing safety PPE to technicians

 
Alongside other changes to our usual working routine, we hope that these can help us create a safe working environment so we can continue to provide an essential service. The digital divide has been highlighted as a real issue over the past few weeks with schools turning to online education. Keeping our workplace open allows us to continue helping students and others in the community who otherwise do not have access to technology at home. Your donations matter now more than ever.
 
Thank you for your support for our work, and helping to keep our staff safe.

Every month we do an update on our activities to let our donors and clients know the impacts of our work delivering the CFS+ program.

March can be no different, even though everything about March was “different”.
 
BC Tech listened to the words of Dr. Henry and closed our office on March 20th. This was not an easy decision to make because the week prior saw a big influx of applications from families and non profit organizations as they prepared for what a “stay at home” order means for many without access to technology. Our work has not been deemed an essential service by government, and yet we know how essential it is to many people.
 
We heard Minister Fleming say that ~7% of students don’t have access to technology at home. We’re looking for partnership opportunities to assist school districts and organizations support their families in need. It’s easier for us to get one order of 30 computers out the door than it is to get 30 orders of one and time is better spent refurbishing, rather than packing. 
 
In the short time we had in early March, we are grateful to have been able to:
Provide 503 computers/laptops to families and organizations like Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, Lookout Aid Society, TELUS health care workers, and Handy Circle Resources Society.

• We received our first donation from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (yay!) and more equipment Corrections Canada and BC Utilities Commission. Thanks to all our donors.
• Have 9 interns working with us – and we wish good luck to Stephen and Alex as they completed their work terms.

 
March was totally different and has marked the start of a new way for society to live and virtually interact, and still we must find gratitude for all the good things we have:

• Our treasured health care workers preparing for a crisis we hope doesn’t reach it’s full potential impact
• Good weather so we can get outside and witness the rebirth of spring
• Teachers developing new lesson plans and reaching out to their students after an unrestful Spring Break
• Community coming together to sing and bang pots at 7 pm

 
Stay safe and healthy. Find gratitude. Stay at home.