Monday, Apr 07, 2008 - 05:15 PM

By Jaclyn Asztalos
Cary - Apex Reporter
NBC17.com

DURHAM, N.C. - Ned Dibner and his dad Mark
always felt like being computer geeks could
lead to something special.

“We collect, donate and refurbish computers,”
Dibner said.

The father-son duo formed the group called Kramden Institute that helps families to get computers for their homes through the "Geek-a-thons." They also came together with Habitat for Humanity to give away hundreds of computers and Internet services.

“They ask me if I have Internet and I have to tell them "yes or no." I tell them "no" because I don’t have a computer, but now I have one and I feel happy,” said Rebeca Aguilar, a student in the 4th grade.

“These are kids on the honor roll that have been selected by their schools. They are hard working kid,” Dibner said.

Today the Geek-a-thon, which takes place once a month, provided over 40 families with their very own computer.

“We never had a computer before and we get to do cool things with it,” said 3rd grader Diamond Graves.

Ned says he hopes these giveaways will help fill what they call the digital divide between those students with a computer and those without one. Parents say receiving this computer will saves a lot of time and frustration.

“Even though there’s access in the library, there’s a time slot and you have to wait to log on, and I feel the time you wait you could be doing the work,” parent Gail Jones said.

“We’re doing both processes … building computers and getting things together, and giving away computers, which is great because the volunteers get to see the faces of the kids and it’s great” Dibner said.

So far, the Kramden Institute has rebuilt about 1200 computers and they hope to go national, providing school age kids with the technology they need to succeed.