Most of the nearly 200 kids at Guardian Angel Catholic School don't have computers at home and internet access is rare among the few who do.

The 52-year-old school serves poverty-stricken Pacoima and is tucked among the subsidized housing projects that are home to the "poorest of the poor," Principal Mario Landeros said.

Few parents can afford tuition, so grants cover basic costs, but those extras must come from the community.

Kerry Carmody, chief executive of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, answered a call to help Guardian Angel.

Responding to a request from Los Angeles Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, Carmody oversaw a donation of 25 hospital computers, refurbished with new hard drives and each with a new keyboard and mouse.

The computers were donated to the school, replacing an obsolete system Landeros called 'useless."

"We learned about their needs and our people sacrificed their time to help out," Carmody said. "They truly lived the Providence Mission to serve the under-served."

A team from Holy Cross gave up a Saturday to install the computers, software, wireless routers and printers. They created a lab that will be available to students in first through eighth grades to hone skills crucial to their current studies, their high school and college days and their future careers.

"Now they can research papers and projects and learn how to type," Landeros said. "It's essential for school children to have computer labs. We're so fortunate to have a friend like Holy Cross."

One of the hospital's vendors stepped up and donated time and materials to install new cabling, said Patty Mayberry, director of clinical projects at Holy Cross.

"The hospital I.T. staff was incredible, and together made this happen," Mayberry said. "They donated all of their time assessing, reconfiguring and installing the computer lab in an effort to ensure a clean infrastructure and up-to-date hardware for the students. We also referred them to a site where they could get free software."

While the "tekkies" created the lab just days before school resumed from summer break, the facilities team at Holy Cross had spent several weekends on other projects, painting, making some repairs and bringing in donated furniture, said John Ramirez, the hospital's director of facility support services.

Holy Cross and Guardian Angel are long-time friends. The hospital has helped the school community through its Faith Nurse Partnership, Latino Health Promoters Program and School Nurse, all offering free health and social services to a community in need.

Landeros is grateful as is Bishop Wilkerson, who sent this note to the Holy Cross teams of volunteers, guardian angels in their own right.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am for everything that you have done for Guardian Angel School, and for all of the other ways that you are reaching out to those in need," the Bishop wrote. "As you know, Guardian Angel School serves the very poor, especially those living in the nearby projects known as San Fernando Gardens. I can see that your mission is not just words on a piece of paper, but that it has become deeply integrated into your lives. Thank you!"