The North Wasco County School District 21 Education Foundation is continuing its effort to raise $20,000 by May 15 to support D-21 in providing distance learning and support basic needs for families experiencing economic hardships.  Foundation Administrative Director Rebecca Thistlethwaite says they are nearly halfway to that goal, and for the next two weeks the Foundation is pledging $5,000 from its own reserves to match dollar for dollar any donations coming in up to $5,000.  Half the funds would go toward technology needs for distance learning by addressing a shortage of Chromebooks at the elementary level along with helping teachers with laptops and webcams they don’t have at home.  The Foundation noted the Google Foundation has just pledged an emergency grant of $40,000 to put towards those issues, and the Foundation wants to cover the remaining $10,000 need.  The other half of the fundraising effort would be used to purchase grocery and gas gift cards for families with the greatest needs.  Donations are accepted at northwascoed.org.