200-300 Phoenixville Families Need Internet For Online School

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Not every family in Phoenixville Area School District has had an internet connection because of the cost, but the community is coming together to get all students connected.

The Phoenixville Community Education Foundation (PCEF) has partnered with the district to meet other needs arising during the pandemic. Under the theme "Together We Can," the organizations have delivered food and books and school supplies to families in need.

But as school opened virtually last week, the need for every home with students to have internet became top priority. The PCEF estimates there are 200-300 PASD families in the Phoenixville Area School District who currently have no internet. "They have relied on cell phone coverage to access email but their children cannot attend Zoom classes or upload assignments," the PCEP said.

Many of the district's families have never had internet service because they cannot afford it, according to PCEF. The foundations and the school district, in response, searched out deeply discounted internet access for the families most in need.

Joan Cadigan, Executive Director of Phoenixville Community Education Foundation, said that both T-Mobile and Comcast had programs for getting service to low income families.

"These programs allow us to be a sponsor of a low income family and/or provide technology for educational purposes, at deep discounts," Cadigan explained. "PCEF is going to cover the cost of providing Comcast Internet Essentials or T-Mobile hot spots for families who are in need. The district had already handed out Kajeet and Verizon devices in the spring but this is a more affordable, more long term solution for this school year, so those families will get new service shortly."

But, she said, in order to do this, the foundation is using money it raised last spring for its Together We Can Fund.

PCEF launched the new Technology For All campaign last week, and already has received donations from more than 30 individuals.

"So we are ahead of what I anticipated," Cadigan said. "We assume that these technology expenses could cost up to $100,000 and because we live in a great community, I am confident we will be able to meet our goal of connecting every student to the internet who needs it."

Cadigan said, "We were overwhelmed by the response to our donation ask last March; we far exceeded our goal then. That money was raised to provide technology and to ensure that we could continue to feed food-insecure students during the shutdown and over the summer. And the remaining balance will be put towards the internet for all project."

While the service is available at a discount, the foundation and school district together are asking for the whole community's help with the ongoing cost of connection.

"Your donation of $250 will pay for one household’s internet connection this school year. A $100 gift will provide a full semester of service," said the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation.

"We have seen the best of our community during this crisis, and PCEF is proud to be the steward of your generosity," Cadigan said.

Anyone who wishes to donate may go here for more information.