Flint Energies and its philanthropic arm, the Flint Energies Foundation, bridged the digital divide by donating 200 Chromebooks to six rural school districts. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how rural families are often at a disadvantage in a virtual learning environment. The majority have poor internet service and many cannot afford a computer to access online classrooms. That is where Flint Energies and its Foundation stepped in. 

The Flint Energies Foundation held an emergency meeting last month to approve the purchase of more than $90,000 worth of Chromebooks to be donated to Crawford, Macon, Peach, Schley, Talbot and Taylor County school systems. 

Flint Energies coordinated the purchase and delivery of the laptops to the school districts. Peach County received 20, Macon, Schley, and Taylor counties received 30 each and Crawford and Talbot counties received 45 Chromebooks each for distance learning students to use. 

“Flint Energies has always been in the business of improving the quality life of our members, whether through power lines or community development. We saw our rural students’ great need for technology and did what we could in short order to improve their access to online learning. Our Chromebook donation would not be possible without those Flint Members who participate in our Operation Round Up® program,” says Marian McLemore, Vice President of Cooperative Communications. “The small change they donate each month made this gift and so much more possible.”