initiative: Rescue & Recovery

Help us build a full 10-station computer lab, matching or beating what a typical U.S. school classroom has, so these students learn on real, current technology.

The Need

Right now, students at this school have never touched a school computer. No lab, no keyboard, no login of their own, while kids just across the border grow up assuming a laptop is part of a normal classroom.

What We're Building

A complete 10-station lab, not hand-me-down machines. Each workstation is a Dell Tower Desktop with an Intel Core Ultra processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB solid-state drive, Windows 11 Pro, Wi-Fi 6, and a 27-inch monitor, the same specs (or better) as a current U.S. school computer.

Rounding out the lab: two HP LaserJet Pro multifunction printers (print, scan, copy, and fax) shared across the ten stations, the same ratio U.S. school labs use; battery backup power protection on every few stations, which matters because power fluctuations are common in this area and a surge can take out a computer in seconds; webcams for video calls and distance learning; a wired network switch to keep the connection reliable; and a year of Microsoft 365 Education so every student has real Word, Excel, and PowerPoint access, not a trial version.

What Your Gift Provides

Goal: $15,000

Why It Matters

Hands-on access to real technology means these students walk into a digital world already knowing how to use it, instead of learning for the first time on the job, or not at all. It's the same standard of classroom technology kids get across the border, just a few miles and a very different budget away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these new computers or refurbished?

New. Every workstation is a current-model Dell Tower, fully loaded and ready for students on day one.

Why does the lab need battery backup units?

Power fluctuations are common in this area, and an unprotected surge can damage a computer instantly. The backup units protect the investment.

How many computers will the $15,000 cover?

Ten complete workstations, plus the printers, power protection, networking, and software a working lab needs, not just the bare machines.

Help us bring home a safe, reliable van so kids in this community never miss a day of school because they had no way to get there.

The Need

For many kids in this community, the walk to school isn't safe: long distances, no sidewalks, no dependable way to get there and back. When there's no ride, kids miss school, and missed school adds up fast for a child already facing more obstacles than most.

What We're Buying

A 2019 to 2021 Ford Transit 350 XLT, a 15-passenger van built specifically for the job. From 2020 onward, the Transit comes standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection, with blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control available as options. It's a non-CDL vehicle, meaning our own staff can drive it without a special license, and it's a platform mechanics everywhere know well, which matters for a vehicle running rough roads in a maintenance-limited area.

Why This Vehicle, at This Price

A new 15-passenger van in this class starts north of $60,000, well outside what this cause needs to raise. But a clean, low-mileage 2019 to 2021 Ford Transit 350 XLT, already equipped with modern safety features, typically runs $22,000 to $25,000 on the used market, right in this campaign's $25,000 goal. That's the sweet spot: full safety equipment, a reliable and well-known platform, at a fraction of the cost of new.

Why It Matters

A reliable ride means a student shows up to class instead of missing another day. It means parents don't have to choose between getting to work and getting their kids to school safely. One van, used every school day, keeps a whole group of kids connected to their education, and to the community activities that happen around it.

Goal: $25,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Why a van instead of a bus?

A 15-passenger van covers the same route and rider count a small school bus would, at a fraction of the purchase price, insurance cost, and licensing requirement, since it doesn't require a commercial driver's license to operate.

What safety features does it have?

Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection come standard on 2020 and newer Transit models, with blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control available.

Is this vehicle new or used?

Used. A well-maintained 2019 to 2021 model gives us the same safety equipment as a new van, at less than half the cost.

What will this van be used for?

Daily school transport for children in the community, plus trips to other community activities tied to the ministry's work.