By Amy Batista, Special Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The Amazon fulfillment center in Robbinsville donated 50 Kindle Fire HD 7 devices and $2,500 in content gift cards to the Robbinsville School District’s Department of Special Services at Sharon Elementary School to promote life-long learning and foster the use of technology in the classroom on Oct. 22.
"We were given $2,500 to spend on applications and other media," said Robbinsville Schools Superintendent Steven Mayer in an email on Friday. "We are very grateful to have a good neighbor like Amazon in the Robbinsville community."
"We will use the tablets to enhance the instructional program where kids can use the devices as readers, assistive technology, and tools to interact with each other and the Internet in a meaningful fashion," he said.
The District’s Department of Special Services provides specialized support and individualized services for students, staff, parents and the community.
Local and state dignitaries were in attendance including Mayor Dave Fried, Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-14), Assemblyman Dan Benson (D-14), Amazon General Manager Tim Hall, Robbinsville Schools Superintendent Steven Mayer and Board of Education member Sharon DeVito as well as Sharon Elementary School Principal Janet Sinkewicz and teachers Jen Crammer and Bridget Cotter attended the event.
Amazon employees were also on hand helping the children get the school’s new devices up and running.
Mr. Hall spoke to a group of students about the importance of technology in the classroom.
"We are very grateful for the donation of 50 Kindle Fires and $2,500 in gift cards that will go towards purchasing apps and books for the devices," said Ms. Sinkewicz. "The Kindles will help students with their skills in math and language arts. The Kindles can help to target specific skills and accommodate the needs of the students.
"We are happy that Amazon has moved to Robbinsville, reached out to us, and are great neighbors that value collaboration and the work we do at Sharon School," she said.
"A wonderful gesture by our newest community corporate partner," said John Nalbone, spokesperson for Robbinsville Township, in a post on the township’s Facebook page.
Seattle-based Amazon opened the fulfillment center in Robbinsville in 2014 to pack and ship customer orders.

