A free weekly technology help desk at the Lealman Exchange has found a consistent audience since launching in March, drawing seniors and community members who need hands-on help navigating smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Community Tech Desk runs every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon and is co-sponsored by CodeBoxx Foundation and Unique IT Pro. The program was conceived as an accessible resource for older adults who often lack affordable options for technology support, though it welcomes participants of any age.
The Tuesday morning schedule was intentional. Silver Sneakers fitness classes bring a steady flow of seniors to Lealman Exchange during those same hours, giving the tech desk a built-in audience of community members who are already comfortable coming through the door.
Sessions cover whatever participants bring through the door, which has ranged from learning to make FaceTime calls and send photos via text message to troubleshooting older devices that are years past their expected lifespan. Community Tech Desk staff recently helped someone work through a billing dispute with a telecom provider, advocating for a refund by check rather than a gift card and assisting with a name correction on the account.
Some participants are working toward specific goals across multiple sessions. One attendee is in the process of migrating to a new iPhone and learning to navigate Facebook Messenger. Another downloaded an AI assistant app and is learning how to use it for real-time conversations in Vietnamese. The program has also walked iPhone users through switching their display to a more familiar classic view to more easily access saved favorites.
The program is actively seeking funding to sustain and expand the work, and its volunteer-driven model is well-suited for replication at other community centers or senior-serving facilities. For now, the doors are open every Tuesday morning to anyone who walks in with a device and a question.
