Not only do many of the military veterans who attend computer classes at Robin’s Home every Thursday have limited experience with the technology, some of them don’t have a computer. A grant the veteran resource center is receiving will help fix those issues.

Robin’s Home is getting 100 laptops from the Pennsylvania Digital Connectivity Technology Program, a program designed to provide devices to nonprofits, libraries and community institutions throughout the state. The Butler Area Public Library also received approval for 30 laptops through the program.

Mary Chitwood, founder and executive director of Robin’s Home, said the nonprofit helps veterans get connected to the internet to apply for jobs, schedule medical appointments and more.

“This will help bridge that gap and get them more engaged with the digital world,” Chitwood said. “Anyone who completes our computer class, we'll be able to give them the laptop. We're going to loan them out, and we'll have some here.”

Chitwood said Robin’s Home also plans to partner with VA Butler Healthcare, to get laptops to its clients so they also can connect to the internet.

Anita Bowser, information services manager for the Butler library, said people come to the library specifically to use its computers and access the internet. However, the laptops will provide a little more privacy, because of their mobility. They just can’t leave the library, Bowser said.

“We're very excited about it,” Bowser said. “Laptops will be very valuable. They can take laptops into any room, a quiet nook where they can work on it — as long as they don't leave the library, and they are able to give us an ID.”

The library also plans to host workshops on internet use once the laptops arrive early next year. Bowser said the Robin’s Home’s classes and the library’s workshops will help people unfamiliar with the internet get more accustomed to safe browsing and even using email.

“We're very excited about it,” she said. “We promise to do a large number of public workshops. They'll be focused on a variety of topics; everything from basic email (and) how to make sure you're securely accessing your medical portal.”