Feature Story & Photos By: Larry H. Oskin
South Lake Technology Resource Center (SLTRC) celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Sterling and Benita Reed of Vibrantek partnered with Evelisse Bookhout at Hands of Hope America to open South Lake Technology Resource Center within the Four Corners HOHA location in Clermont. Many dignitaries and supporters came to help support this celebration, including Clermont Mayor Tim Murry, Lake County Commissioner Doug Shields and the South Lake Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team. It was quite the party with live entertainment, a magician, face painting, a bounce house, food and raffle prizes.
Vibrantek owners Sterling and Benita Reed created their Random Outreach Program, donating all of the computers, desks and software to launch the new South Lake Technical Resource Center. Sterling Reed shares, “Our non-profit foundation will support the needs our community while focusing on the underprivileged and those without the financial capabilities to buy equipment or to enroll in any educational workshops. Soon, we will have a second facility closer to the Downtown Clermont area.” He continues, “We want to encourage full community involvement and support to make this new resource center a big success. We will be offering strongly discounted computer repair and website design services which will be available to families and businesses alike to further offset the basic costs for this program as well as to support growth with more services and equipment going forward. Sponsors with financial and equipment donations will always be welcome.
SLTRC is a non-profit 501-C3 organization within their Random Outreach Foundation designed to help area residents with educational and technical resources. New PC and Apple computers were installed with private study desks. The original concept was planned to help the underprivileged and those with special needs. SLTRC is now open to primarily help students as well as adults. Children below 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. SLTRC is open for free services with no admission fees to take advantage of their facility, computers, equipment and workshop classes. You can sign up for a variety of courses including how to use a camera or to learn a new language. Kathy Judkins of SECO Energy made a very large surprise donation with dozens of valuable laptop computers to be able to sign them out for home use.
SLTRC offers a wide range of educationally-based programs to help with Foreign Language Classes, People Skills, Management Skills, Marketing, Computer Repair, Computer Backup & Recovery Systems, Data Security Services, Search Engine Optimization strategies, Cloud Services, Computer Networking, Cabling of Mac & Linux, Basic Introductions to the World Wide Web, Mobile Repair, Social Media, IT Services, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security Forensics, Internet, Photography, Architecture, Electronics, Robotics Technologies, Hardware & Software Specialties, Website Design, Typing Classes, Graphic Design, Game Making Technology, Leadership, Android Development, Critical & Cognitive Thinking, as well as much more.
Evelisse Bookhout, Founder and CEO of Hands of Hope America, shared, “Thank you for supporting Hands of Hope America and our Random Outreach partnership as we initiate innovative new education and free technology training opportunities. I am pleased that we see people here from different backgrounds, race, ethnicity, beliefs, political parties and organizations coming together here to encourage and support one another. We have been praying for that with the purpose of a diverse collaboration that will build a solid foundation to be the change our communities need to equip, empower and restore those that are underserved. Alone we can do very little, but together we can change the world!”
Kathy Smith, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of South Lake noted, “We saw the need in the Four Corners and the work that Evelisse Bookhout was doing through Hands of Hope America. Last summer we invested $15,000 to start a summer teen program for a very underserved population. This program was a big success. The impact on the lives of the area children was remarkable!”
Hands of Hope America was established in 2019 as a 501-C3 non-profit organization. She notes, “I advocated for the need of a Community Center for our youth as a safe haven where they can thrive and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. The Community Foundation of South Lake grant provided us with a way to establish our community center and youth summer camp program. We provide an ongoing after-school program that includes homework assistance, tutoring, and enrichment programs to set the next generation for success. We utilize the HOHA community center to provide services and resources to our youth and their families. Hands of Hope now offers many diverse family services inclusive of a food pantry, a clothes closet, youth outreach, marriage counseling, immigration assistance, case management services, resume building, notary, medical assistance, tutoring, SNAP Program assistance and Zumba classes. Hands of Hope is dedicated to assisting individuals and families facing food insecurity and America’s at-risk youths through mentorship, leadership training, team building, counseling and tutoring.”
South Lake Technical Resource Center is located at 16605 Sunrise Lake Boulevard, Suite 3 in Clermont, FL 34714. The SLTRC is now open within the Hands of Hope Center for Social Services. 352-432-3824 www.HandsofHopeAmerica.org.
Vibrantek Solutions owners Sterling and Benita Reed offer expert computer repair services, computer technology training, app development and website design. Contact Vibrantek Solutions at 708-942-7484 or 855-942-7484. Email Sterling@Vibrantek.com and visit: www.Vibrantek.com.
