Computers for Students Year 2010 Activity Report

Note: A special thank you again goes to John Wezeman of GVSU and Kevin Kubiszewski of Foremost Insurance Company for major equipment donations. We thank Ed VanTimmeren for allowing us to store our bus and storage trailer on his property off Front Street near Leonard NW.

Computers for inner-city students and their families: Demand for computers this year has again been reduced from the frenetic pace that we had a few years ago. Our pace has been steady but much slower than in the past. Year 2010 has again been dominated by our effort to provide computers to low income students ( both teenagers and many unemployed adults) and their families who can not afford to buy a computer. This year the number of students requesting dial-up Internet access has slowed to a trickle. Now, with many people getting a package deal of Television, Internet and telephone we have begun to find more people using the network connections on the computers that we give rather than a dial-up connection. Some student families have cell phones and do not have a direct telephone line service to their home. It costs less to have an Internet line connected to their home than it would cost to have a phone line. Therefore we seldom set up a dial-up service with the computers that we give to students now.

We also have continued to work with Eastown Ministries "Homework House" for students in and near the Eastown neighborhood. This year we have been blessed with three young women: a cornerstone College student, an Aquinas student, and a young, former teacher who live in the homework house and give ten hours each week to the youth ministry. We have sixteen computers set up in the Homework House and in the Youth Center next door with Internet access. We continue to rebuild and give Pentium 4 1.7Ghz and better computers. We just added the question to our application: "Do you have a phone line phone" We continue to install Windows XP Servicepack (3) software for the operating system and this year we have begun to install Windows Office 2007 since we are able to purchase this software from Microsoft through the Microsoft Registered Refurbisher (MRR) program. We may soon begin installing the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system through the Registered Refurbisher Program. We continue to install Open Office, a free version of Office made by Sun Microsystems since this is the program used in the public library, where many low income students have gotten their experience on that program. We continue to install Mozella FireFox as an Internet browser along with Internet Explorer, and Thunderbird as an e-mail program.

Again this year the Public Schools, GR Community College, Davenport College, Michigan Works, United Way, churches and neighborhood associations have actively assisted students to fill out the applications and find volunteer opportunities in the community. They also refer businesses who want to donate computer equipment to us. We continue to have the Kent Intermediate School District office for home schooling (serving students expelled from school) refer parents to our program when they do not have a computer in their home. The United Way refers anyone in crisis that needs a computer to our ministry.

We support and observe the computer use in the Eastown Ministries Youth Center and the Homework House. Because Eastown Ministries has direct responsibility for the use of these computers, last year we, through Wherever God Wills, developed a relationship with Covenant Eyes. Covenant Eyes is a Christian based business that helps parents and organizations monitor and block Internet web sites that are destructive to the mental and spiritual health of Internet users. Wherever God wills has been promoting the Covenant Eyes service and, if anyone subscribes to Covenant Eyes by clicking on a link on the computers that we donate or from our web site, we will receive 15% of the paid subscriptions. We still have not received any income for our ministry, but the service is a good one to promote. We also promote the use of XXXChurch.com a monitoring and reporting software that is free.

On June 12, a neighborhood/friends/family group went to Holland Beach, a special event for Fatima Ibrahim-Ahmed from London , England.

On July 7, John Ball Park Zoo became a very educational place as a group of children and chaperones from Calvin Christian Reformed Church in connection with Children’s Hope, Stopping Summer Learning Loss Program. Students spend an hour learning about the animals and their habits then enjoying a hands-on experience. The bus is used as transportation, classroom, and lunchroom for 14 guests.

On July 7-10, we took many of the grandchildren (Adam, Eric & Kasey’s ) to the farm for a g-pa/g-ma camp! It was a real treasure to have 7 children from 3 families come together to relax and enjoy. Their parents came up on the last day and we all enjoyed fishing, speedboat rides with wakeboard, toboggan ,and skis. A very memorable time for all of us as Eric’s family then returned to Belgium.

On July 14, about 18 people from Calvin Christian Reformed Church went to a horse farm/boarding site. All enjoyed feeding, combing, riding and learning about these beautiful animals. After lunch of barbeques, beans, hotdogs, applesauce, carrots shared with the horses and drinks, a few games were played, and everyone had a very enjoyable time.

A large dairy farm was the destination for the Children’s Hope group on July 12, 2010. The group were delighted to see 4,000 cows, with 3,000 being milked. Large milk container semi-trucks drove in regularly to take the milk (never touched by human hands) to be processed/. About 25 babies are born weekly, the females are retained and the males picked up every three days. There were 7 new-borns for the children to pet in the stall. These cows rarely leave from under the roofs there, it looks more like a production plant than a farm. The people were very welcoming with their children sharing ice-cream sandwiches and chocolate milk. Many questions about cows, cow care and the business of milking cows were addressed. About 2 dozen people enjoyed this trip.

Bus Trips 2010

On July 15 through 18, a group of 20 neighbors and friends went to the Farm for a long weekend of hiking, sports, swimming, tubing on the White River, and relaxing. It was a time packed with activity, discussions, good food , and great company.

On July 28, 2010 the crew from Calvin CR Church went to Meijer Gardens.

It was a very interesting and inspiring stop, they studied habitats and various ecological environments and viewed the flower gardens and sculptures. After lunch, they spent time in the children’s area. We served a typical meal of hot dogs, hamburgs, applesauce, yogurt, cakes, and juice.

On August 3, a group of 7 guys, 5 girls, and 6 adults went to Michigan Adventure for a day of fun. We arrived at the opening and left after 6:00. Rides and water fun highlighted the day. We served food to all and since the day was overcast, everyone had a good time.

A fishing trip was planned for August 4 at the beautiful WhistleStop Park in Byron Township. The children learned about fish, their habitats, and how to fish with a reel. Many fish were caught and the fun of fishing was enjoyed by all. This program helps stop summer learning loss, and is valuable for those involved. They have sufficient adult leadership at each outing for one-on-one mentoring. The group numbered about 18.

We provide 3 food times, classroom space, and transportation support.

The Lowell 4-H Fair was the exciting venue for the final trip for the Calvin CRC group. On August 11, the meal was beefsteak soup, hot dogs, hamburgs, tropical fruit salad, drinks , watermelon, and cheese stix. The group viewed all the livestock and exhibits. Their learning focused on pigs and sheep. The Carnival rides were a special activity for the group of 15 participants.