A new project is aiming to raise $50,000 to buy portable Wi-Fi hotspots that Islanders can borrow from the library in Charlottetown for free.
A Wi-Fi hotspot allows people to connect to the internet wirelessly without using data, which can be expensive.
“Wi-Fi hotspots are so important because connectivity now today is like a lifeline,” said Nora McCarthy-Joyce, who is on the board of the new Charlottetown Learning Library Foundation. This is the organization’s inaugural fundraiser.
“It connects people to health resources, education resources, employment. People use the internet for entertainment, for homework.”
The campaign is about ensuring Islanders who are struggling financially can stay connected and have their needs met, McCarthy-Joyce said.
‘Very helpful’
The current economic climate, with inflation driving up the cost of essentials like housing and groceries, means more families are feeling the pinch and looking to economize, she noted: “There are a lot of families who are struggling to balance those bills.”
McCarthy-Joyce noted that a person who has a cellphone with limited data could use a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the internet instead.
