MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Marines with the Depot's Computer Systems Support Facility assisted with a much welcomed donation of computers to a Georgia school district May 6.
Several Marines loaded 132 Depot computers onto a truck bound for Marlow Elementary School in Effingham County, Ga., to help provide enough equipment to fill the school's classrooms and two new computer labs.
"We were very exited ... very pleased the Marines are donating such wonderful equipment," said Leslie Dickerson, curriculum director at Marlow Elementary School. "We're a small rural school so we don't receive a lot of extra federal dollars to purchase a lot of this type of equipment."
The elementary school will be moving into a new building next year, which has two new computer labs in need of more machines.
"It's great to know we will have enough computers to fill both of our computer labs, and we will even have enough to put two or three in each classroom," said Dickerson.
Not only was Dickerson astonished with the number of computers being donated, she was shocked when she saw the condition of the machines.
"I was very surprised at how we received them," said Dickerson. "I initially thought it would be a mess of scattered computer components and wires, but that wasn't the case at all. Each machine was individually packed in a box, complete with bubble wrap and Styrofoam packing. It was like they were brand new. The time and effort they took to prepare each computer was much appreciated."
Laura Harrelson, Marlow Elementary School principal, praised the Depot's kindness and generosity.
"We were just overwhelmed at the news of our school receiving such a donation-we've never had one quite like this," she said. "Budgets are tight right now with economy like it is, and without the donations, we wouldn't be able to set up the labs and classrooms like we had planned. The teachers are thrilled ... they will be able to better prepare the students for what lies ahead."
According to Dickerson, the number of computers will now allow each student to have more time on the machines and will allow teachers to be more efficient.
"We are very appreciative of the Marines donating such equipment," Dickerson concluded.
Corporal Kirby Miller, supply warehouseman, was one of the Marines who assisted the school with shipping the computers out to them.
"The computers we donate come from all over the Depot," said Miller. "When the base switched over to Navy Marine Corps Intranet, new computers came in, so we had all these older ones laying around in storage. That's when we put them up for donation on the Internet at Computers for Learning."
Computers for Learning is a Web site that allows various businesses and government organizations to list computers they wish to donate. Those eligible for a donation include non-profit civil service agencies and public schools, which post their requests on the Web site.
"Since we started the donation program, we have donated 342 computers," said Miller. "Battery Creek Schools, the Jasper Academy for Career Excellence and Marlow Elementary School have all received computers, and we still have about 100 more to donate."
Miller believes the program is a great way to show the surrounding communities that Marines care.
"I think the donation program is a great way to keep in good standing with the communities besides Parris Island," he said. "It's better to have the computers out there with somebody who can really use it rather than letting them go to waste sitting around."