Kansas City Fed initiative encourages employers to help narrow digital divide

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City today launched the Employer Laptop Challenge, a new community development program that encourages companies and other organizations to donate used devices to nonprofits, schools and refurbishers.   

Businesses can visit the Employer Laptop Challenge page to get instructions on the donation process.  

“Closing the digital divide was serious work before COVID-19. Now, as Americans isolate themselves at home, those without computers and internet service are cut off from essential services, from learning, from family and friends,” said Jeremy Hegle, senior community development advisor at the Kansas City Fed. “The need for laptops is extreme.”

According to a recent report from the Kansas City Fed, large numbers of donated equipment from corporations knocks down costs and makes supporting the community easier. Hegle adds more than 30 percent of low income households lack a computer.

Hegle said it would take at least 5,000 computers to meet the needs of the most at-risk families in the metro Kansas City area, and even more are needed to help nonprofits struggling to operate virtually. With the pandemic, nonprofit refurbishers that are usually a source of free or cheap computers for nonprofits and lower income families are unable to meet the current demand.

As part of the Bank’s commitment to narrowing the digital divide, the Kansas City Fed has donated more than 100 used computers to nonprofits across the seven-state District.
  
Visit kansascityfed.org/laptopchallenge for additional details. Read the Kansas City Fed report on broadband access, economic impact and solutions for communities to narrow the digital divide, Disconnected: Seven Lessons on Fixing the Digital Divide.

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