By Ken Stickney

ken.stickney@panews.com

Two Texas non-profits have refashioned some 500 Motiva computers, redistributing them to students from two Port Arthur elementary schools hit hard by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey.

Comp-U-Dopt and Save the Children, assisted by Motiva volunteers, combined efforts Friday at DeQueen and Tyrrell Elementary schools, distributing desktop computers for home use to about 250 families at each school.

DeQueen principal Jerry Gloston said Port Arthur Independent School District’s administration called her about a week ago to put her in touch with Comp-U-Dopt, whose primary work is distributing computers to needy districts. Comp-U-Dopt’s goal this year is to distribute 1,000 computers to Harvey victims.

She said the computers are loaded with math and reading programs that will prove helpful to the children’s education. Students were trained to use the computers this week. Two years of free tech support accompanies the computers.

“There was an overwhelming level of interest from parents and from students,” Gloston said. “Every day the students have been asking, ‘When am I going to get my computer?’

“We are thankful and grateful to Comp-U-Dopt, Save the Children and Motiva for making this possible for Port Arthur students,” she said. In many cases, she said, students lost their home computers during the flood.

Students awaited the distribution in two lines between 4-6 p.m.

DeQueen student Ny’Arie Ned said she was eager to try some educational programs at home.

“I’m excited about this,” she said. “This will help me.”