Computers stolen, but not dream of program

ST. PETERSBURG -- Good people donated computers to an afterschool program at Childs Park United Methodist Church. Bad people stole the best ones sometime during the past few days.

"It makes me feel sick," said Carolyn Wharrie, who is in charge of the 16-year-old afterschool program.

Few of the children who attend the program are fortunate enough to have computers in their homes. So their time at the afterschool center is precious.

"They are kids that would be out on the street without supervision," said Donna Ratzlaff, executive director of United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, which runs the structured afterschool program with the church, 3940 18th Ave. S.

"The kids all live in this neighborhood, but they get bused out of this neighborhood every day to 31 different public schools. For these kids, we are a real center as far as community goes."

The theft was discovered Saturday morning.

"They broke out a window and then got inside and with a crowbar pried open every door," Ms. Ratzlaff said. "They had pulled all the computers out of the computer lab and they were strewn all over our social hall."

Besides the computers, the thieves took mouse pads, computer mouses and the program's two television sets and VCRs. They also stole three table top stereo sets, one CD boombox, two 35-millimeter cameras and a couple of CDs from the computer lab.

The thieves left some old computers, taking the best ones from the center.

"The majority of the computers we have, except for two most recent donations, they are 5 years old. They're already antiquated. . . . These computers have reached the end of their life as it is. And it's just keeping them going, week by week. And then once in a while, we get a donation and it's like Christmas," said Geraldine Chapman, a retired Hillsborough County teacher who is a computer coach at the center.

"People are so generous and so helpful, and people come along and do this," said Ms. Wharrie, who directs the program.

The property is insured, said Ms. Ratzlaff, the executive director. "But your deductible is so high that by the time you swallow that, you don't have enough to replace what you've lost," she said.

"We have 78 children in the afterschool program that use the computer lab every week. Close to 100 children that utilize the facility on a regular basis and the equipment is also used for the church during the week."

Monday afternoon several children worked enthusiastically at the six remaining computers that had been cobbled together in the tiny lab. They had begun arriving about 4 p.m. for the afterschool tutorial program called Producing Academically Successful Students, or PASS.

With assistance from a small staff and volunteers, students from first through 12th grade are helped with their homework and work to improve their reading, math and writing skills. The children also learn about nutrition and finances through a 4-H program.

The computers are an important part of their education, Ms. Ratzlaff said.

"We rotate the kids through so that hopefully, in a week's time, every child gets some instruction in computer technology," she said.

Students are allowed to work in the lab for 20- to 30-minute periods. Often two children, each with a pair of earphones, share one computer.

"Sometimes we are like sardines in here," said Mrs. Chapman, the computer coach.

As she talked with a visitor, the computer coach asked Jasmine Jones, 14, to help the younger students.

Jasmine is one of the few children with a computer at home. It was a Christmas present from her grandmother, who had received it from special program, she said. Jasmine spoke happily of the benefits of having her own equipment.

"It's personal. You have it to yourself, so you don't have to sign up or you don't have to wait for anybody. You don't have to hurry up because somebody is waiting for you," she said.

Jasmine, who proudly shared a prize-winning essay she had written in the computer lab, was the only student whom Ms. Chapman had told about the burglary.

The eighth grader at Southside Fundamental School was indignant.

"I thought, how could somebody come to a church that they don't know and they don't know who owns it and they just come in here and take something that's not rightfully theirs?" she asked.

"That just shows you what kind of state this country is in now," said Jasmine, who lives "right up the street" from the red brick church.

Ms. Ratzlaff said her reaction to the weekend theft was, "Here we go again."

She said it's usually the poorest places in the poorest neighborhoods get hit.

But the program will get through this, Ms. Ratzlaff said.

"We do what we always have done. God will get us through."

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