In a world where applying for a job, accessing healthcare, or communicating with loved ones requires internet access and digital literacy, thousands of Mississippi Gulf Coast residents are being left behind. H3LPRS is working to change that—but we need your help to make it happen.
The Crisis We’re Addressing
Right here in Pascagoula and across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, 28% of adults cannot read above a third-grade reading level, and two out of three adults cannot read above an eighth-grade level. Statewide, approximately 700,000 Mississippi residents are functionally illiterate—able to read basic words but unable to follow written instructions or navigate essential services.
The digital divide compounds this literacy crisis. The same populations struggling with literacy—low-income families, elderly residents, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other marginalized communities—face technological barriers that isolate them from opportunities and resources. Without digital access and the skills to use technology effectively, individuals cannot apply for employment or housing, access telehealth appointments, communicate with distant family members, or stay informed about critical community resources.
Mississippi consistently ranks at the bottom nationally in educational outcomes. While Hattiesburg recently launched the Pine Belt’s first adult literacy program in 2025, Pascagoula and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have no comparable services. This gap leaves thousands of our neighbors struggling in silence, unable to access the fundamental tools necessary for economic stability and personal independence.
Our Mission: Three Core Services That Transform Lives
H3LPRS was founded in June 2025 as a registered 501(c)(3) public charity with a straightforward mission: bridge the digital divide by providing equitable access to technology and information for underserved communities.
We deliver three essential services that work together to create lasting change:
Digital Literacy Education
We teach basic to intermediate computer skills through individualized instruction tailored to each participant’s learning pace and goals. From navigating email to completing online job applications, we ensure participants gain confidence and competence with technology.
Technology Access
We provide laptops, tablets, and mobile hotspots to individuals and families who cannot afford essential digital tools. Access alone isn’t enough—but it’s the critical first step that opens doors to education, employment, and connection.
Specialized Technical Support
We offer ongoing technical assistance through our mobile service delivery model, including online support that meets people where they are. This ensures participants can maintain their devices and continue using technology effectively long after initial training.
Why Your Support Matters Right Now
H3LPRS operates as a startup nonprofit with zero existing operational history or established funding streams. We rely entirely on founder investment and volunteer support to serve our community. While we’ve successfully launched our core technology provision and digital literacy programs, we cannot expand into foundational literacy services—desperately needed by the majority of our target population—without external support.
Here’s the reality: Without digital access, people cannot escape poverty cycles. They cannot access job training programs that require online applications. They cannot schedule telehealth appointments that reduce healthcare costs. They cannot help their children with homework requiring internet research. The digital divide is not merely an inconvenience—it is a human rights issue that perpetuates systemic inequality.
Research shows that bridging the digital divide requires more than handing out devices. Users need access to tools, resources, knowledge, and ongoing support. Investment in high-speed internet connectivity, training programs, financial support, and literacy development can empower marginalized communities and close the divide permanently.
That’s exactly what H3LPRS provides—but we cannot do it alone.
How You Can Make a Difference Today
Every contribution to H3LPRS creates immediate, measurable impact in our community. Your donation directly funds:
- $50 provides one family with a refurbished laptop and basic setup support
- $100 covers one month of mobile hotspot service for a household without internet access
- $250 funds literacy curriculum materials for ten students beginning foundational reading instruction
- $500 supports comprehensive digital literacy training and ongoing technical support for one participant through program completion
Monthly donations ensure sustainable programming that serves 150 individuals annually with both technology access and literacy education.
Ways to Give
Transform Lives Today: Donate Now
Visit h3lprs.org/donate to make your tax-deductible contribution via credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. All donations go directly to program services—technology acquisition, curriculum materials, and participant support.
Give the Gift of Technology: Donate Devices
We accept gently used laptops, tablets, and smartphones that can be refurbished and provided to families in need. Contact us at ops@h3lprs.org to arrange device donation drop-off or pickup.
Share Your Skills: Volunteer with Us
We need volunteers to assist with digital literacy instruction, technical support, outreach coordination, and administrative tasks. No formal teaching experience required—just patience, compassion, and basic computer skills.
Amplify Our Impact: Spread the Word
Share our mission with your network through social media, word-of-mouth referrals, and community connections. Follow us online and help us reach individuals who need our services and supporters who can help fund our work.
Be a Hero—Support Our Cause
The digital divide affecting our Mississippi Gulf Coast neighbors is solvable. Access to technology and foundational literacy skills can break cycles of poverty, isolation, and limited opportunity. But this transformation requires community support—individuals, businesses, faith organizations, and civic groups working together to ensure no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world.
Join us in this movement for change.
Your contribution today—whether financial, technological, or volunteer time—directly impacts real families right here in Pascagoula. Together, we can ensure every community member has the tools, skills, and support necessary to thrive in the digital age.
Mississippi’s literacy and digital divide crisis didn’t develop overnight, and it won’t be solved instantly. But with sustained commitment from compassionate community members like you, H3LPRS can provide the comprehensive support our neighbors desperately need.
Stand with us. Support H3LPRS today.
H3LPRS is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN: 39-2463531). All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
For questions or partnership opportunities, contact us at ops@h3lprs.org.
Together, we can bridge the digital divide. Together, we can transform lives.