Emporia families get connected with free computers, internet access

Dozens of families in Emporia received a boost Tuesday.

The non-profit organization Bridging the Gap handed out computers to 150 families, along with three months of free internet service.

PCs for People and Mobile Beacon sponsor the event. They worked with the Emporia school district to identify families who lack access to technology at home.

Kaitlynn Mundell and her two children were among those selected.

"It's great. I really think it's amazing," Mundell said. "With the way that technology has....it's a big thing so I feel like anybody that can have access to it, it's good for them."

USD 253 leaders say technology is used every day in the school setting, which means students may need to use the computer to complete assignments at home, too.

"We are fortunate with our school district that we are one-to-one with computers (at school), but not all of our families have access to that," said Judy Stanley, USD 253's associate director of teaching and learning. "This gives that access to families and it lets them stay in touch with what's going on in their schools, look for resources for their families, and just have access to technology that they might not otherwise have."

Communities in Schools says it's goal is to remove barriers to achieving academic success.

"Computers are the gateway to education and knowledge," Rachel Harrington with Communities in Schools of Mid-America said.

Stanley said families filled out applications to be considered for the computer giveaway. She said more families applied than they had computers available.