Summer is often a season for reflection, and this year we have plenty to reflect on. From a residential recovery program in southern Maine to a rural elementary school near the Canadian border, the technology we provide is showing up in places where it truly matters. Below, in their own words, are two organizations sharing what that partnership has meant to them.
Supporting Women on Their Recovery Journey
Breaking the Cycle relies on our computers every single day, across every part of its operation. Executive Director Josie Barker explained how deeply the technology has become woven into the organization’s mission:
“The technology provided by give IT get IT. has made a tremendous difference at Breaking the Cycle. The computers are used every day by our administrative team, clinicians, and the women in our residential program. They support everything from documentation and client care to helping residents build resumes, complete job applications, and access other important resources as they work toward independence.”
For Barker, the benefit goes beyond convenience. It has translated into better care and stronger stewardship of limited nonprofit resources:
“Having reliable technology has allowed us to provide more efficient, higher-quality care while also saving our organization a significant amount of money. In today’s world, it is nearly impossible to effectively operate a nonprofit or provide the level of support our clients deserve without dependable computers and technology.”
Most powerfully, Barker connected the equipment directly to the lives it touches:
“We are incredibly grateful for this partnership. Your generosity has strengthened our ability to serve women on their recovery journey and has had a lasting impact on both our staff and the individuals we support. Thank you for investing in our mission and helping us provide the tools that make meaningful change possible.”
Bringing STEM to Rural Maine Classrooms
Nearly 200 miles north, our Build IT program landed in a very different setting: the classrooms of Forest Hills Consolidated School in Jackman, Maine. Principal Teresa Lovejoy shared how smoothly the visit came together and how much it meant to her students:
“We were so pleased and grateful for the program to visit our school. The team was flexible with the number of students and timing, so it was very easy to fit into our schedule. The feedback was all positive. Students enjoyed the activity, learned and had fun (always a win, win) and were surprised they got to take home ‘ALL’ the components of the desktop machine.”
Lovejoy has already expressed hope that the program returns for future students, a sentiment we share wholeheartedly.
Elizabeth Caruso, Broadband Director at Somerset Economic Development Corp, helped establish the program at Forest Hills and was on hand to facilitate the session in the classroom. She offered a vivid picture of the day:
“It was an excellent session, the students were all excited, attentive, and engaged in each of the steps. You could see the light in their eyes when the operating system worked successfully and they realized this was their device to bring home. The faculty was thrilled we were there to provide this valuable STEM experience as well as the gift of a desktop.”
There is something special about watching a student realize, in real time, that the computer they just built with their own hands is theirs to keep. That moment captures exactly why this work matters.
Two Stories, One Mission
Whether it is a woman rebuilding her life through Breaking the Cycle’s residential program or a sixth grader in Jackman discovering a passion for STEM, the thread connecting these stories is the same: reliable technology, placed in the right hands, changes outcomes. It strengthens care, opens doors, and builds confidence, one machine at a time.
If our work has made a difference for your organization, we would love for you to share your story. Reviews on GreatNonprofits help us reach more partners like Breaking the Cycle and more schools like Forest Hills Consolidated. A few minutes of your time helps spread the word about the good this partnership can do.
Thank you for being part of this mission with us.
