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Burl. Twp. man on a computer mission for families

By LAURI SHEIBLEY
Burlington County Times

BURLINGTON CITY — There are many low-income families that do not have a computer, but LaMonte Reed is on a mission to change that.

Reed, a volunteer with the nonprofit Sisterhood Inc., collects used computers, refurbishes them, and distributes them to families in Burlington City and Willingboro.

In the past year and a half, Reed has given away about 50 such computers.

Reed, a computer technician and videographer from Burlington Township, said it is important for every family to have a computer in this technological age. He said children especially need computer access to work on school assignments and conduct research on the Internet.

In return for a computer, the Sisterhood asks each family to volunteer time at the organization, or make a small donation of $50 to $100. Reed said the contribution is determined on a case-by-case basis and no one is turned away.

Reed credited his friend Joe Steele for starting the program about 10 years ago. When Steele began working as a teacher at the Burlington County Special Services School in Lumberton, he could no longer dedicate the time necessary to the computer program, and he asked Reed to take over. Reed said he enjoys the work.

“I feel I am on this Earth to help other people,” he said.

Reed has outfitted a computer lab at the Sisterhood office, located at the corner of York and East Broad streets in Burlington City, where he teaches children how to use the computers.

He has dreams of someday opening a school for adults, where he can teach them how to become computer technicians.

“We are trying to show them there is another way,” he said. “They can make $100 a day without selling drugs or beating someone up.”

Reed said the Sisterhood collects old computers from the Burlington County Special Services School, the Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pa., the Burlington County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington County, and individual donors. He thanked the principal of the Burlington County Special Services School in Lumberton, Paul W. Houser, for his support.

About a month ago, Reed said he donated 20 computers to a charitable foundation, which sent them to a high school in Nigeria. He said he is always looking for more computer donations.

“Other people's junk is our gold,” he said.

Reed also is in need of volunteers to help him make repairs. He said he would be happy to teach volunteers how to do the work.

Anyone interested in donating an old computer, or in need of a computer, should contact Reed by calling the Sisterhood at (609) 747-9333.

topic from "http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-01132008-1470254.html"