Walking a Kid Home

I grew up in a time where it was ok to walk home from school. The worst thing that could happen was that I would become distracted by a group of friends, a stray kitten...a shiny rock.

I am to this day easily distracted.

But ultimately I accomplished my mission, and that was...

To go home.

Today's society finds us using terms like "helicopter parents". Parents or guardians who feel such a need to protect their children that they "hover" over them every moment of their day. The phrase "why don't you go play outside" has been replaced with:

"I'll drive you to soccer practice and wait until it's over."

And that's a good thing. While stifling a kid's growth by welding yourself to them every minute of their day isn't going to help them grow, it can be a comforting and guiding force in their lives....done in moderation.

For about 4 years, we've been walking kids home...in a technical sense that is. Not only have we given them computers so they can learn, we've taught them how to use them to the fullest advantage. One of our most recent recipients, Chris Gomez, puts it as plainly as it can be put:

The computer is perfect. No everything is easy and simple to use. I think Linux is wayyyy better then windows. I really appreciate what you have done for me. The computer has open alot of doors for me . I can now further myself in my music. thank you.

(original email available for those who want to see it)

Chris took to Linux as if he had been using it forever. Kids don't care about platform...they simply want something that works. Show them the ropes and soon they've used that rope to build a bridge to their future.

Linux Against Poverty amassed for us almost 100 ready-to-go computers. Plug 'em in and they are ready to go to work. It was in every sense of the word, a blessing.

Now we need to get them to those that need them. This is gonna be the tough part and we could use your help in doing so.

A recent meeting brought forth the idea of individual sponsorship. It's a great idea. Money problems have dogged us from the beginning, as they do every non profit. We are in the midst of getting some grants written but those take much more time than we have. With school just weeks away, we have requests for machines and we just don't have a way to get them where they need to so. Fully aware that I am going to sound like Sally Struthers...

Would you walk a kid home?

It costs us on average, $25.00 to do an install. That includes fuel, vehicle use and all the other little things you wouldn't normally think of. What we can do is pretty efficient. Each person sponsoring an install will not only get their name engraved on the installed machine, we will post on this blog, each and every installation in picture format...from start to finish. Of course, if the donor is a corporate entity, that business will receive full mention and links here as well.

Roy Hall, Mark Van Kingsley and I stacked computers almost to the ceiling in our storage facility this past Sunday...now it's time to start taking them out and putting them to work. As of right now...we cannot do that. If you would like to sponsor a Linux Computer from The HeliOS Project, simply hit the donation button on the top-left of this page and you are officially a HeliOS Luminary. $25.00 gets it done.

Of course, we would appreciate you spreading the word of our project to your workplace, church or any other organization that might like to be a part of what we do. Until we can get some semi-permenant funding, this is the only way I can think of to do what we need to do.

And as always, I am open to suggestions.

All-Righty Then