Veteran service organizations receive 108 refurbished laptops to help veterans find homes, health care and employment
Enterprise Services Surplus Operations and the state Department of Veterans Affairs are partnering with the Federal Surplus Personal Property Program to make 108 laptops available to six veteran service organizations under the FOR VETS Act of 2010. The laptops will be used to help veterans find jobs, receive vocational support and training, and apply for disability and medical benefits.
The organizations receiving surplus materials are:
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- The American Legion
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- National Association for Black Veterans
- Unfinished Mission
In the fall of 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the "FOR VETS Act of 2010," authorizing the transfer of federal surplus property to a state agency for distribution through donation within the state to approved veteran service organizations. The program allows veterans to connect with crucial resources they may need to find housing, medical care and employment.
Surplus Operations also works with the Department of Corrections and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to refurbish computers and redistribute them for use by school districts across the state. In 2012, a total of 6,872 computers were delivered to Washington schools. Forty-six pallets of computers and computer-related equipment, such as monitors and printers, were delivered to Western Washington schools and 36 pallets were delivered to Eastern Washington schools.