Spectrum is bridging the digital divide for veterans in Tampa Bay! Their $10,000 Digital Education Grant will provide a mobile computer lab to help our Operation: Veteran Connect members empower struggling veterans with digital education classes and online services.
For many of the veterans we serve, every day is a struggle to access basic necessities like food and shelter. Learning technology to navigate life in this digital world isn’t a luxury they can afford. Vital services that could significantly improve their quality of life, like health information, VA benefits, job training, and services, require the use of technology. Unfortunately, most veterans we serve lack the digital skills to navigate these resources.
We will help veterans who never learned to use computers build the digital skills needed for online banking, telehealth, email, health information, affordable housing, and locating food pantries.
Operation: Veteran Connect member Kitty Anderson provides digital literacy support for veterans at the VA Resource Center. She shared, “Access to technology strengthens veterans’ sense of purpose and allows them to be more independent. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and fosters a fun learning environment, empowering them to overcome challenges and realize their full potential.”
Operation: Veteran Connect engages volunteers who are also veterans to serve veterans who struggle with disabilities, PTSD, food insecurity, and homelessness. Military service creates a unique bond of camaraderie and veterans feel more comfortable sharing their struggles. Thanks to Spectrum, we now have the computers needed to give veterans a fresh start and self-sufficiency.
