PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A cellular carrier has recently donated 165 wireless hotspots and at least 12 months of service to local Boys and Girls Clubs.
The gift went to Boys and Girls Clubs of Border Towns, which includes the Presque Isle, Houlton and Perry clubs, to ensure internet access throughout this summer and the full 2021-22 school year. The hotspots will help boost their connectivity when area youth are at the club and are also loaned out to families to support access at home.
Wireless hotspots became a lifeline for education during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that youth could participate in remote learning, and they continue to be a vital tool for youth to access the Internet, study and complete schoolwork at home or at their Club.
“Boys and Girls Clubs of Border Towns are extremely grateful for this opportunity,” said Jennifer Kiandoli, public relations/fundraising officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Border Towns.
“We have continued to serve our community youth with virtual activities and mentoring,” Kiandoli said. “These hotspots will give access to the internet for youth that have not been able to participate in our virtual outreach due to the lack of internet access. We intend to utilize the hotspots to broaden our efforts with those youth and hope to improve youth engagement.”
The hotspots provided to Boys & Girls Clubs of Border Towns connect to UScellular’s network to provide high-speed connectivity for club members throughout the Presque Isle area, and each hot spot has the potential to support multiple club members throughout any given day.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Border Towns provides an essential service for youth in our community, and we want to help ensure their members have the connectivity they need to be successful,” said Tabatha McKay, area vice president/general manager for UScellular in New England.
“Wireless technology is key to providing broadband service to families in both urban and rural areas, and we believe that every household deserves access to reliable internet access, McKay said. “We want to do our part to ensure youth in our area have the resources they need to stay connected.”
UScellular has donated more than $1 million in hot spots and wireless service to 16 Boys & Girls Clubs across eight states in 2021.
