Nonprofit works to bring technology to all

For those without the means or knowledge to access the digital world, the disadvantage widens between the technology haves and have-nots every single day.

Through the Trees, a local nonprofit organization, is working to bridge this digital divide by providing technology, digital literacy training and internet service subsidies to disadvantaged Transylvanians who do not have access to updated technology.

With the help of this organization started in 2020 by Yvette Brooks, county residents can now receive the tools they need to thrive in the digital age.

“I was working in the domestic violence nonprofit realm and I was at SAFE and I saw the phones really kind of stopped ringing,” Brooks said.

“I had a caseload of a lot of families that I was helping make sure went through the court system and with the phone ringing less, I was worried about them just not having access to resources,” she said.

Many of her clients lacked access to technology which inhibited their ability to search for resources which could help them.

“There’s a big part of the county that doesn’t have access to the internet,” she said.

Brooks took it upon herself to help.

“I said, ‘You know what, I want to start this and it’s going to be an issue that’s going to take more time than just my free time,’” she said. “It’s going to be a big project.”

“I took classes at Blue Ridge Community College on how to open a nonprofit and how to write grants,” she said. “I learned as I went.”

UPCYCLE TECH

In the past four years, the project has expanded to opening a retail store, Upcycle Tech, located on Asheville Highway.

Clients can come in and receive in-person low-cost tech support, training in a variety of digital skills, subsidies to pay monthly internet costs and shop the selection of phones, computers and other equipment.

The organization relies on volunteers to update donated items, upgrade systems and fix broken items.

“We’ve been in that space since August 2020 but we didn’t get up our sign and decide to start Upcycle Tech until last April,” she said.

“That was a game changer because then people driving by or going about their business nearby saw from the street and said, ‘Oh look it’s an electronic thrift store,” she said.

“It drew a lot of people in off the street and helped us with more donations,” she said.

“It also helped us have a set-up to be able to have families come in and shop for their device,” she said. “I feel so much better having it set up as a store where it is an option of choice.”

The location serves as a base of operations for Through the Trees and permits volunteers and staff to directly interact with local residents.

REGIONAL SUPPORT

Through the Trees was recently awarded three years of funding through the regional organization Dogwood Health Trust.

Brooks said the trust will provide $50,000 a year for general operating costs and allows the funds to be used in any way the receiver sees fit.

“That type of funding is going to help us plan and really leverage and bring in more funding resources, too,” she said.

Previously, Dogwood funded the organization in 2022 with funding restrictions, but this time Brooks can use the money as best as she sees fit.

“Since we’ve been in this space now almost four years, they’re excited to see the growth that we’ve accomplished,” she said. “They’ve catapulted us into a new realm of funding.”

On Tuesday Brooks travelled to Charlotte to work with the nonprofit Eliminate the Digital Divide which donated 100 computers to Through the Trees.

This group has been bridging the technology divide for more than 10 years and Through the Trees will allocate these devices to local community residents.

“They focus on corporate donations coming to them and their model is a little bit different,” Brooks explained. “It’s not like ours where if you qualify, it’s free. They have it where the household needs to pay a portion towards that computer somewhere. And they’ve identified 100 computers that they want to give to us to help us just with our mission.”

“It’s really cool to be working with other collaborators like that,” she said.

For more information about Through the Trees, including how to volunteer and donate electronics, head to throughthetrees.us or visit Upcycle Tech at 470 Asheville Highway in Brevard.