When the pandemic hit our community and schools switched to virtual it really hit home. That was on March 14th.  Underlying issues in the community were brought to light. Many rural children do not have access to adequate internet at home. Work professionals who used to commute to the city were suddenly out of a job or learning how to work online at home. This was challenging or impossible for those who did not have adequate internet speeds. The digital divide is described as “the gap between those who have access to technology, the internet and digital literacy training and those who do not.” The rural community is underserved and continues to degrade the longer that the digital divide exists. Through the Trees is working to change that. 

The rural parts of our county are really underserved and need better access.