Build Hope's Digital Literacy Learning Lab

Right now, in California's Central Valley, the digital divide isn't just a statistic—it's stealing opportunities every single day.

Maria is a single mother who lost her job during the pandemic. She watches online application portals close to her because she doesn't know how to upload a resume. David is a veteran experiencing homelessness who carries hope for a fresh start in his backpack—but every shelter bed, every housing application, every job requires digital access he doesn't have. Jasmine is a bright teenager whose family can't afford internet, forcing her to complete homework on a cracked smartphone outside fast food restaurants.

In Stanislaus County, 11% of households have no internet access—the highest rate in California. Among low-income families, that number jumps to 23%. Among the unhoused population we serve, it's nearly 100%.

These aren't just numbers. They're people locked out of housing applications, job portals, telehealth appointments, educational resources, and pathways to stability. In 2025, digital literacy isn't optional—it's survival.

That's why Help Is Hope is building a Digital Literacy Learning Lab.

Our lab will feature 10 modern computer workstations, high-speed internet, professional software, adaptive learning technology, and expert instruction. It's a welcoming space where anyone can learn basic computer skills, internet navigation, email management, job search strategies, and digital communication—all at their own pace with hands-on support.

Your gift doesn't just buy equipment—it unlocks futures.

When you donate, you're giving someone the job application they can finally complete, the telehealth appointment connecting them to mental health support, the housing portal access helping them find stable shelter, and the confidence to navigate any digital system. You're providing the email account that allows professional communication and the online course that teaches marketable skills.

How Your Donation Creates Impact:

$50 provides one person with a full 12-week digital literacy course $250 sponsors one complete computer workstation $500 funds adaptive technology for individuals with disabilities $1,000 provides high-speed internet for three months $5,000 equips an entire section with 5 workstations

Studies show individuals with digital literacy skills earn 25% more and are more likely to find employment, access healthcare, and achieve stability. Without these skills, people face insurmountable barriers to the very resources designed to help them.

Help Is Hope serves people society has marginalized: individuals experiencing homelessness, those in recovery, people reentering after incarceration, adults with limited education, immigrants, refugees, and seniors. For them, the digital divide isn't an inconvenience—it's a wall between where they are and where they deserve to be.

Within the first year, we'll serve 150+ individuals with comprehensive training, support 75+ job placements requiring digital skills, and connect 200+ people to critical online services.

But we can't do it without you.

Right now, someone in your community is missing out on a job because they don't know how to format a document. Someone is losing hope because every door requires a skill they've never had the chance to learn.

Your donation creates a space where dignity meets opportunity, where struggle transforms into skill, and where every person can access the technology education that changes everything.

Donate now and be part of someone's breakthrough moment. Be the reason they finally get the job. Be the hope they've been searching for.

Thank you for believing that digital access is a right, not a privilege.