(Right to left) Jeremiah Johnson, Rony Aguilar, Justin Blade, Quentin Williams, Dr. Doug Arnold, Timothy Williams

Rockdale Career Academy computer systems students are helping homeless families find work and gain training by refurbishing old computers and donating them to families and programs in need.

RCA instructor Dr. Doug Arnold's class recently donated six rebuilt computers to the Phoenix Pass transitional housing program and one to Growing Discoveries Outreach ministries. These computers will be used at Phoenix Pass's common room, which had no computers before this donation, to help adults in the program search for jobs and recieve basic skills training.

The computers and parts came from old computers that were surplused by Rockdale County Public Schools, said Arnold.

"It's a win-win situation," he said. "These don't need to be thrown away. The students get some experience, they get to give back, and the community benefits."

The rebuilding and reprogramming is incorporated into the lessons Arnold teaches throughout the year. The computers are loaded open platform free software and the students donate time to help set up the computers as well.

The donations were coordinated by the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families.