Mustard Seed's central programming emphasis is kids.With the great emphasis on technology in our society one would assume that every child knows how to use a computer and every household would have one. Our research of the East Texas area has proven this to be false. Many children have limited use of a computer at school and few have one at home. Our "Computers for Kids" Merit Program enables children to have a FREE computer - with the hope that they can begin to dream about a successful future - filled with high school graduation, college and a professional career of their choice.

The Merit Program is usually initiated in a school. A teacher or administrator from the school will contact us and setup a date for us to visit the school and introduce our program. We then leave the necessary paperwork for the students to complete with their parents. We set a due date for their return to the school office. At this point MSM sets aside the needed computers. We personalize each one with the students name. They will receive a computer, keyboard, mouse, speakers, cables, and monitor. The software loaded on the computer includes: Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Internet Explorer, Customizer XP, Spyderinternet, and AVG Antivirus. Each computer is both modem and DSL ready.

When the delivery date arrives we transport the computers to the school, set up a 10 station lab and schedule the necessary number of groups needed to make sure each child can attend a special one hour 'crash course' that will introduce them to their computer and its use. We briefly cover Windows XP and its customization, Word, and the safe way to use the internet. We encourage the school to invite parents to come to this training with their child. We find parents usually find this session more useful then their children!

The computers that the children take home are theirs to keep! They have earned them by completing the Merit Program paperwork, which includes ten hours of public service in their community. We hope the public service opportunity encourages the students to continue giving back to their communities, in the same way they have been given this gift.

Need more info?       Contact Karen at 903-530-2046