"The Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson is launching a campaign meant to provide LGBT youth living in rural areas with the tools they need to find a welcoming community, Crushable reported on Tuesday.
Power On, as it's called, will be working in conjunction with The Trevor Project, Straight But Not Narrow and Human I-T to encourage teens to donate old or unused electronics from now until October 16's Spirit Day. Through Power On, the donated laptops, tablets and smartphones will be refurbished and given out to LGBT resource centers across the country.
Hutcherson himself donated one of his personal computers while he was launching the project.
"It's awesome to know that it'll be used to help a young person out there who, before this campaign, wasn't able to get access to information and resources that could really help them," he said, according to Out.com. "I've always respected the work that The Trevor Project does, and to have an opportunity for Straight But Not Narrow to collaborate with them on a campaign like Power On is exciting."
More than half of LBGT youth who were not out in person have used the Internet to connect with other likeminded individuals, according to an "Out Online" study. For these youths, it might not be easy to find others like them in their communities. Being able to connect to a supportive community can lead to friendships and a reduced risk for suicide and other dangerous behaviors, Abbe Land, executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project, told Out.com.
Hutcherson considers himself straight, but didn't rule out dating a man if he met one that piqued his interest, according to a October 2013 interview with The Daily Mail.
Anyone who is interested in donating can find instructions at human-i-t.org/ally. The organization is collecting, refurbishing and distributing all donated devices for free.
