Tech Assistance Business Doubles as Study Site for Students

Effingham Noon Rotarians learned at their June 5 meeting about a local tech solutions business that also provides a study location for junior high students.

iHelpU.Tech is the brainchild of not-quite-20-year-old Ben Meinhart and his mom, Tammy. Ben supplies the technological knowhow while Tammy oversees The Study Shop, located in a part of the business on Henrietta Street, south of Effingham Junior High School and east of Effingham High School.

Ben works to repair existing hardware while answering software questions. Things are going well, such that Ben has had to add a couple of teenaged assistants

As for Tammy, the Study Shop is open from 3 to 5pm on Mondays through Thursdays during the school year. Reading and homework are at the top of the agenda; phones are put away during the students' time there. Tammy, who has been involved in mentoring, said they have had close to 30 junior high kids there some days. She said they plan to expand to accommodate ninth graders this fall.

Mike Kirchhoff served as Rotary weekly program chairman.