Going back to school as an adult can be a challenge, but a recent donation to adult education students of Wor-Wic Community College will make it a little easier.

PCs for People, a national nonprofit, partnered with the Maryland Department of General Services to bring 90 personal computers to students enrolled in Wor-Wic’s Maryland high school diploma and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.

“I’ve been trying to do my work on my cellphone, so this will definitely help,” said Ashley Brummell, who is working on her high school diploma.

Warren Gatewood, director of community and government relations for PCs for People, said that’s exactly the kind of student the program hoped to help. “There’s a digital divide, and our mission is to bridge that divide,” he said. “It gives people a chance to be successful. In today’s world, you can’t even fill out a job application without a computer.”

PCs for People refurbishes donated devices and distributes them to low-income members of the community, sometimes at a very low cost and other times, as for the Wor-Wic students, as a donation.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that digital technology is critical – you can’t prosper or even survive without digital access,” said Brad Thomas, program administrator for the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS). Thomas says that together the organizations have given more than 7,000 computers to Maryland schools and nonprofits; DGS Secretary Ellington Churchill Jr., has made it a department priority to serve those with the most critical needs.

Students in the adult education program fit that role, said Jaime Wilson, Wor-Wic’s adult education instructional coordinator.

“These people are coming here trying to better their lives, and we want to help them any way we can,” Wilson said.

To donate usable computers or laptops to the program, which will securely remove all personal data, visit pcsforpeople.org. Visit www.worwic.edu/Programs-Courses/Non-Credit-Courses/Academic-Preparation to learn more about Wor-Wic’s adult education program.

Wor-Wic adult education students receive free PCs.

Photo: Wor-Wic adult education student Ashley Brummell receives her free personal computer from Warren Gatewood of PCs for People.