School No. 8 gets 50 laptops from Rochester Rotary Members

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) —Some Rochester students got a generous donation of new laptops Tuesday morning from partners of the Rochester Rotary Club.

“They come with the laptop, charger and so they’re ready to go and they have the wifi-enabled and everything,” The Shore Foundation’s executive director Megan Alchowiak said.

Alchowiak presented students and their families with 50 dell laptops and Microsoft software.

“I know how hard these students work and how that they are excelling in their academics and so this was a great fit in finding homes for these laptops,” Alchowiak said.

The nonprofit partners with the Rochester Rotary Club and provides tech for low-income families. School No. 8 was chosen because of the high attendance from this year’s class.

“It’s just a very generous donation,” Principal Stephanie Thompson said. “I almost wonder how we were selected but our rotary connection, rotary family that we’ve had for 30 years is very important to us and they always seem to be showering us with gifts of loveliness so I just feel blessed."

Thompson said it’s been difficult navigating through the pandemic and if it taught us one thing, technology is a must.

“Everyone needs technology throughout the year regardless of being remote and in person,” Thompson said. “We are finding more of our students are accessing our google classes and seesaw from home whether we are in person or at home.”

Alchowiak said the laptops should last the next three to five years.