For a long time, computers were an enigma to Woodinville resident Deborah Barto.

Sitting in front of a large desktop screen with a “Windows 10” logo bouncing around behind her, the 67-year-old retired doctor said she used to ask her daughter for help figuring out her computer. A couple years ago she brought her personal computer to the Northshore Senior Center in Bothell for repairs and ended up taking some classes to “learn the vocabulary of computers.”

She became so fluent that staff asked her to join as a volunteer in one of the center’s two computer labs, where she’s been spending five hours a week for the last year.

Since 1992 the Northshore Senior Center has provided a space for seniors and the community to gather, learn and volunteer.

Boasting around 2,400 current members, the center offers computer instruction classes, computer and internet access and affordable computer repairs.

“We are open to anyone who wants to take classes in our community,” Information Systems Specialist Gary Ancelet said, although joining as a member, which is open to anyone, is encouraged.

“We want to be welcoming to the outside area,” he said.

The center offers two computer labs with around 40 desktops spread throughout the buildings. One lab is for general access and the other for lessons, where everything from basic keyboarding to internet security is taught.

Computer repairs are also offered at a lower rate than computer stores in the area charge said Ken Childs, a retired doctor who decided to volunteer repairing computers.

“It’s been fun for me, it’s been challenging,” he said.

Seniors are increasingly being prodded onto the internet for essential day-to-day tasks like managing their Social Security, ordering medication, continuing education and keeping in touch with friends and relatives.

“You have to use the internet for many of the things seniors are interested in today,” Barto said. “They can still participate actively in life through their computer.”

Venturing onto the internet poses its own set of dangers.

A laptop sitting closed on Childs desk belongs to a man who gave scammers access to his computer, who began remotely controlling it. He ended up shutting his computer off, and bringing it to get repaired.

Scammers and con artists often target the elderly, viewing them as easy targets.

In the instructional lab, with it’s two rows of computers seated on connected desks facing a projection screen, Dave Gumm is trying to change that.

“It’s very common,” the recently retired Boeing employee said about scammers breaking senior’s computer security.

Gumm put together a class about internet security and fraud, and fellow instructor, Ronald Love, sweeps lab computers for malware weekly.

The labs are also used for art appreciation and poetry classes headed by Terry Busch through the center’s Lifelong Learning programs.

“These people come in here with a desire to learn,” Gumm said. “ I see an excitement, I see people [who] make me ashamed I don’t do more.”

The Northshore Senior Center has suffered from decreasing volunteers during the past few years. Ancelet attributes this largely to a recovering economy where many seniors are choosing to work longer, leaving them with less time to volunteer.

Economic cutbacks from the Department of Health and Human Services, and a recent split with another seniors organization in Bothell, have slashed funding too.

“In both rooms, nothing happens without volunteers,” Ancelet said.

For those interested in gaining a greater understanding of computers, Barto had some advice.

“I would say they should come and check it out, and talk to us,” she said.