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Five free laptops to be given to five seniors in St. Lawrence County

Posted 10/12/17

To the Editor: St. Lawrence County Development Program - CDP - has a volunteer program called Community Action Angels. It is a program that many Community Action Agencies in New York State have among …

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Five free laptops to be given to five seniors in St. Lawrence County

Posted

To the Editor:

St. Lawrence County Development Program - CDP - has a volunteer program called Community Action Angels. It is a program that many Community Action Agencies in New York State have among their services.

Every spring, the founder of the program, Pat Standish, from Wyoming County holds a conference in Syracuse to talk about projects that were done throughout the year by Angel Programs in the state. There are speakers on hand to inspire those in attendance to continue with their work. Every year Pat Standish announces a statewide project.

All “Angels” report back to her at the end of the project with their accomplishments and she, in turn, reports the results to the Department of State. This year’s project was raising dollars through donations to give graduating seniors laptop computers. The students had to be college bound, come from families who have low- incomes and have demonstrated a great deal of initiative.

CDP reached out to the guidance counselors in the school districts in St. Lawrence County for nominations. What inspired the project was the Wyoming County Angel Program had given a laptop a few years ago to a senior from a family with low-income who was going to college.

Unfortunately, he was not able to graduate due to a family member’s illness and lack of financial backing but, he used the computer to start a business designing websites. That venture took off and he has now become a partner in a new social media business that employs eighteen people.

Through the generosity of a number of businesses and local organizations, CDP’s Community Action Angels were able to distribute five computers in St. Lawrence County.

Many thanks to: Potsdam Agway, Canton Zonta Club, Potsdam Elks Club, Frazer Computing, Shannon Garvey and High Falls Masonic Lodge #428 who all supported this project. This would not have been possible without their generous contributions. Many thanks for assisting these young students to be successful in their college experience.

Norma Cary

Executive Director CDP