MUNCIE, Ind. - Most Americans find it difficult to give time to even one charity. Travis Street lends his expertise to 18.

When nonprofit agencies in Delaware County have a computer or network problem that they can't solve, they call Tech Link for Street, a Ball State University graduate student.

Ball State Professor Steve Jones has encouraged his students' participation in Community Tech Link, a program of United Way of Delaware County, since its start in 1999.  "Everyone has a responsibility to his or her community," he says. "Ball State is the largest employer in Delaware County, so we are deeply ingrained in what goes on in our back yard."

Street is on loan to the Tech Link program, which provides free technical support to nonprofits that can't afford fees running as high as $100 per hour.

"When you're in a social services program, you do what you do best - serve clients," says Katie Frederick, director of Tech Link. "Technology maintenance, while important, comes somewhere near last. Money is typically directed towards programs, not towards technology."

Ball State's iCommunication initiative is supporting the program with a $7,000 grant so Street's much-needed services are free.

"It gives us a terrific benefit that we wouldn't otherwise have," says Debbie Todd, finance director of the Muncie YMCA. At the YMCA, Street set up a lab of eight networked computers. "We'll be able to offer students who don't have computers at home another safe place where they can do their homework."

Travis serves 20 hours a week as the "roving techie" for another 17 agencies in Delaware County to make DSL connections, set up e-mail, network computers, develop new systems, troubleshoot problems, and update Web sites without charge.

Lenella Maxwell asked Tech Link to help her serve as many as 225 urban children in the Motivate Our Minds' after-school program. Street not only configured computers for their laptop loaner program, he is also showing the children, ages 6 to 13, how to use them.

Ball State, through its talented student pool, has provided 6,800 hours of expert consultation. Local area officials estimate that service value at nearly $700,000.

"The Tech Link program is one of a kind in Indiana," said Frederick. "If we did not have direct community partnerships with Ball State, though, there is no way that Tech Link could have grown to this level."

Street, who describes himself as a techno-therapist, with a concentration in psychology and communication sciences, believes he has found his true calling. "If I could do this full-time, I would love to," he says. "I could do this job until I'm 90 and still not get it all done-there's that much of a need."