An Antioch nonprofit that had dozens of electronic devices stolen from its learning center last month received a donation from Amazon on Tuesday to help the organization continue operating its summer tutoring program.
“We are super grateful,” said Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal at the event, where a team from Amazon delivered Amazon Fire HD tablets and Ring security cameras to the nonprofit, RR Transitional Housing.
The organization, which provides free tutoring services and transitional housing resources, experienced a “devastating” break-in on June 19, RRTH said in a statement on its website. Burglars cut security camera cables at RRTH’s learning center and stole nearly $20,000 worth of Chromebooks and other equipment, devices that the nonprofit used for its summer tutoring program.
RRTH rallied to raise the funding for new equipment, including setting up a GoFundMe and hosting fundraisers. When Raquel Medrano, an Antioch native who leads Amazon’s community engagement for devices, learned about the break-in, she mobilized to help RRTH.
“Growing up in Antioch, I saw how much organizations like RRTH mean to local families,” Medrano said. “When I heard about the break-in, I knew we had to act.”
The donation of more than 50 devices will help the organization sustain its summer tutoring program and increase security protections at its learning center moving forward.
“Behind one of the world’s largest technology companies are people rooted in the communities they serve,” Medrano said. “This is neighbors helping neighbors.”
