AT&T, Human I-T to provide Chromebooks and backpacks to Athens County students and families

NELSONVILLE — AT&T and Human I-T are providing 150 refurbished Chromebooks and 150 new backpacks to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) for distribution to Athens County students and families. Funded by an AT&T contribution, these items will be given to recipients who were pre-selected by Athens County Job & Family Services and FAO.

WHAT: Opportunity for photos and video shots of laptop and backpack distribution

WHO: Community leaders and volunteers will be onsite to help distribute the laptops. Athens County Job & Family Services representatives; Foundation for Appalachian Ohio representatives; AT&T Ohio External Affairs Regional Director Mark Romito

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 20, from 3-5 p.m.

WHERE: Athens County Community Cares Resource Center, 10 W. Washington St., Nelsonville, OH 45764

WHY: In Ohio, it’s estimated that 11% of households don’t have access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world, an issue known as the digital divide.

This effort is part of the AT&T Connected Learning initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. AT&T is committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030. This includes distributing more than 3,000 computers to students and their families across Ohio since 2021.