No-cost Pre-K educational touchpads distributed to Duplin County preschoolers

August 26, 2024   ●   by Kathy

By Duplin Times

North Carolina-based nonprofit ApSeed distributed 260 additional pre-K educational touchpads to Duplin County preschools free of charge at a back-to-school event on Aug. 16.

ApSeed’s Executive Director Dr. Julie Morrow gave out the touchpads at the “Meet Your Teacher” night event for pre-K families at Kenansville Elementary School. Each touchpad is free of charge for families and comes pre-loaded with educational apps that will boost literacy and language skills for preschoolers.

“We’re excited to put these touchpads into the hands of young learners here in Duplin County,” said Dr. Morrow. “Our goal is to make learning fun and engaging, helping preschool-aged children build a strong foundation in literacy — whether it’s recognizing letters and sounds, understanding numbers, or getting familiar with shapes and colors.”

“ApSeed’s educational touchpads make kindergarten-readiness fun and we are thrilled to provide them to young learners in Duplin County,” says ApSeed Executive Director, Dr. Julie Morrow. “The touchpads are designed specifically to help preschool-aged children become better prepared to start kindergarten by teaching them the foundations of literacy — letters and sounds, numbers, shapes, and colors.”

ApSeed continues its effort to support Duplin County preschoolers, having provided more than 1,020 touchpads in Duplin County since April 2023. Friday’s distribution was free to families, but the $42,510 cost of the touchpads ($163.50 each) was covered by private grants ApSeed worked tirelessly to receive.

The nonprofit remains committed to advocating for sustained funding from state lawmakers to ensure every preschooler in North Carolina gets the tools they need to succeed. These touchpads are more than just devices,” emphasized ApSeed founder Greg Alcorn. “They’re a stepping stone toward a brighter future for our children. We’re passionate about making sure every child, regardless of their background, enters kindergarten ready to learn and grow.”