Last fall, teens at Fulton Central Library launched Technology for Good, a clothing drive to support people experiencing homelessness. With guidance from Best Buy leaders, donation boxes were placed in local stores across Atlanta. By October the team had collected 10 boxes of winter essentials and delivered them to the Salvation Army, turning neighborhood goodwill into immediate relief for community members in need.
The project quickly became a learning lab. Teens organized logistics, coordinated outreach with corporate and nonprofit partners, and practiced user‑centered problem solving. They produced a podcast to document the process, amplify volunteer voices, and share lessons learned. That storytelling and impact led to a major milestone: their submission to the Best Buy Foundation Charity Classic Showcase was accepted. This June they’ll be presenting in Minneapolis and unveil their next big idea—an app to connect Atlanta’s homeless community with resources, services, and volunteer support, designed from the insights gathered during the drive and conversations captured on their podcast.
Community partnerships and sustainability
The project demonstrates how libraries, corporate partners, and nonprofits can cocreate solutions with youth at the center. Best Buy leaders provided mentorship and logistical support; local stores hosted donation boxes; the Salvation Army accepted and distributed donations. Next steps include recruiting technical mentors, securing seed funding for app development, and piloting the prototype with partner organizations in Atlanta. The team is also exploring ways to measure long‑term outcomes, such as repeat engagement, resource access improvements, and volunteer retention.
The Technology for Good project shows how a youth‑centered learning environment transforms curiosity into concrete community impact. By combining access to high‑quality tools with mentorship and real responsibilities, the Teen Tech Center helps teens build technical skills, empathy, and the confidence to lead. This project is only the beginning—expect more community‑driven innovation from Fulton Central’s teens as they scale ideas that meet real needs with creativity and care.
App vision and core features
The app is conceived as a human‑centered tool that moves beyond one‑time donations toward sustained connection and dignity. Key features the teens are designing include:
- Service mapping that shows nearby shelters, meal programs, and hygiene stations.
The Teens are codesigning the prototype with input from Best Buy mentors to ensure the app is practical, respectful, and easy to use.
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