BANYO Nundah parishioner John Carr has been fixing up computers and bringing them to people in need for 16 years.
It began as a hobby, putting together broken computers, but when the fixed computers started to pile up at home, he needed somewhere to take them.
This began a project that saw 5475 computers and laptops delivered to Brisbane’s poor and migrant communities through groups like Micah Projects and Multicultural Australia.
Now, he leads a team of five volunteers who spend a few hours a week fixing computers and matching them to people who need them.
Things have been quiet lately.
When flights stopped over the pandemic and the flow of migrants slowed, Mr Carr saw demand for computers had dropped.
Now that airports were operating again, he anticipated a surge in requests for help.
He used to worry about situations like that – worried he would not get enough computers, or not enough people to claim the computers.
He took it to prayer a few years ago.
“I said to the Lord, ‘Lord, this is your project, you organise it and I’ll do the work’,” he said.
“Well you wouldn’t believe… as soon as I said that, all of my problems were solved.
“Every time we wanted more computers, they came; every time we needed more clients, they came.
“That’s still happening today.”
He said a computer could make a big difference for someone in need.
These days a lot of communication for work and government services was done online, including banking and communication with friends and family.
Mr Carr said in past years he provided computers for people living alone in Brisbane with family overseas.
He said it made a big difference for them to see their family through video calling.
The project’s current need was for laptops or laptop parts, including power adapters.
Anyone who would like to find out more about the project can contact parish_computers@bigpond.com or call the parish.
