Native Peoples' Gathering Place in Prince George Thrives with IT Donation
Based in British Columbia, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre (PGNFC) is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, dedicated to serving the needs of native people residing in the urban area and improving the quality of life in the community as a whole. It is one of the largest and busiest community service agencies in the area. The PGNFC provides culturally appropriate programming to meet the community's unique and diverse needs. Last year, it helped more than 56,000 low-income individuals of all backgrounds. PGNFC's programming includes employment, search assistance, shelter emergency resources, community garden and kitchen programs, educational preschool programs, one-on-one assistance for special-needs children, counseling, and summer camps.
All of these programs rely on donated Microsoft products that the organization received from TechSoup Canada. The organization has more than 100 computers, all of which run Microsoft Office. Communication within such a large organization is vital, and PGNFC staff relies on Microsoft Outlook to connect with each other, plan meetings, and share files. Its servers run Microsoft Server, and the organization also utilizes Microsoft Exchange Server. Microsoft Word is used in almost every program, from helping job seekers write resumes to creating certificates for volunteers. Using Microsoft Internet Explorer, staff and volunteers can do research, enter data, and order supplies.
Microsoft Publisher helps staff create business cards, brochures, and lunch cards for its in-house restaurant. Microsoft Excel helps the organization to track and manage budgets, program usage, emergency resources, client progress, and volunteer hours. The organization also has a resource room with computers for individuals to use for online employment search and for creating cover letters and resumes. Twice a month, the public is invited into this computer lab for a community computer night.
