Health

Plymouth 3rd-grader launches GoFundMe campaign to buy Chromebooks for families in need

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Eight-year-old Lucy Jackson will start the school year learning remotely, with help from her mother, Katherine, at their home in Plymouth.

“I feel really good to be able to raise money to be able to afford seven chrome books for kids who may not be able to afford them,” Lucy said.

Lucy, who is a 3rd-grader at Nathaniel Morton Elementary School, launched a GoFundMe campaign to buy Chromebooks for families that don’t have access to computers and families that have more than one child sharing a Chromebook. That expense can quickly add up.

“Having the ability to have someone lighten their load is huge right now when people are looking for a little bit of hope and they’re looking for a little bit of support just to even have one thing,” Katherine Jackson said.

During the pandemic, the Plymouth School District gave out more than 1,000 Chromebooks to families in need, so they could stay connected. Any help lightening that steep financial load is appreciated by the district.

“I’m thrilled with it because we’re trying to do the same thing because we know it’s our obligation. We want our kids to be able to learn and have what they need to be part of that. So it’s just awesome, awesome, awesome,” said Dr. Gary Maestas, Superintendent of Plymouth Public Schools.

The district will spend around $60,000 this year to keep students connected through remote learning

Lucy’s online goal is half that, $30,000.

“In Plymouth, there are roughly 60,000 people. If each person in Plymouth gave $1 we would double our goal and that’s what it takes to make a huge difference in the community,” Katherine Jackson said.

So far, Lucy has raised nearly $4,000, enough for about seven Chromebooks.

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