Last week, a photo was posted on Instagram. It was of two school-age girls who were sitting on a curb by a Taco Bell restaurant. They both had computers in their laps, and they were trying to virtually do school. This was in California, home to some of the biggest names of technology. However, within one photo, it speaks so many volumes about how big the "digital divide" truly is.
Once the Salinas County School District saw the photo, they were able to get the girl's hotspots in order to do their homework, according to KIRO 7. Amy Ish, president of the district's board of education said, "The digital divide is very real, and delays in receiving needed technology are a statewide concern, we are grateful the state is making technology a priority and look forward to receiving these hotspots in our district."
The photo touched many people, and many wanted to help. One woman named Jackie Lopez started a GoFundMe for the family when she was able to track down the girl's mother, Juana. Lopez spoke to Juana about possibly getting her girls a desk so that they could do their homework there. However, Juana explained that there was no room in her home for that, which was a rented room that she was also due to be evicted from on September 1. While Juana was eagerly searching for a place, she had no place locked in to go.
Lopez knew at that point that the little girls who not only needed the internet but also needed a place to live as well. That was when the GoFundMe was launched. Originally, the goal was $20,000 but has far surpassed that goal, raising over $124,000 as of the publishing of this article, and continues to grow.
On the GoFundMe page, Lopez stated that she started the campaign in order to help Juana and her girls with a few month's rent and to pay for moving expenses. Lopez said that she "truly did not expect this amount of help to roll in for Juana and her girls." Due to the large number of donations, Lopez has gotten in touch with a reputable accountant in order to help Juana keep track of her finances.
The photo also took off after Kevin de Leon, president pro tempore of the California Senate tweeted it out to his followers. He also spoke about the "digital divide."
Every student deserves a safe place to do their schoolwork and homework. It isn't exactly safe for children to be sitting on curbs of fast-food restaurants with electronics in their hands. Every single child deserves a safe space. If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe for Juana and her girls, you can do so by clicking here.